A Brief Throwback on Indonesian Army's Ammunition Blasts, Most Recent in Garut

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Another incident involving the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) occurred, where expired ammunition exploded in Garut, West Java. The explosion claimed the lives of 13 people.

Here are several incidents of TNI ammunition explosions within the past year.

1. Ammunition Depot Explosion

The regional ammunition depot (Gudmurah) of the Indonesian Army Jayakarta Military Regional Command in Ciangsana, Bogor Regency, West Java, exploded on March 30, 2024.

The explosion occurred when a soldier discovered smoke coming out of ammunition warehouse number 6. The officers then reported to the on-duty personnel to immediately inform residents of the incoming explosions coming from the direction of the warehouse.

The first explosion was heard at around 6:30 p.m., before the warehouse caught fire. The fire and a series of explosions continued for three hours, with approximately 160,000 types of explosives, totaling 65 tons, set ablaze.

Residents in the surrounding area were immediately evacuated to safer places, but officers could not make a direct approach to the blazing warehouse until the situation was deemed safer.

The fire was extinguished in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Firefighters from Bogor and Bekasi, assisted by Jakarta officers, helped put out the fire. TNI members and police personnel also assisted in firefighting and evacuating residents.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

2. Ammunition Truck Explosion on the Toll Road

A truck carrying ammunition for the Strategic Reserve Command of the Army (Kostrad) exploded and caught fire at kilometer 774 of the Gempol Toll Road, Pasuruan, East Java, heading towards Probolinggo on Monday night, May 5, 2025.

The Pasuruan Kodim 0819 Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Arhanud Noor Iskak, said the truck was part of a convoy transporting equipment and personnel of the 509th Infantry Brigade (Brigif) Kostrad Jember from Surabaya to Jember.

The exploded truck was carrying hand grenades and small-caliber bullets.

"The convoy consisted of four trucks carrying equipment and members of the Brigif 509/Kostrad Jember, after the unit had previously been deployed in Papua," said Iskak during a media briefing in Pasuruan, East Java, on Tuesday.

Iskak also confirmed that one person died in this incident, but stressed that the officer did not die as a result of the explosion or sparks, but rather from falling from a height while trying to evacuate by jumping over the toll road barrier wall. The deceased officer was in the third truck of the four-vehicle convoy.

3. Ammunition Explosion in Garut

The most recent incident occurred in the Sagara beach area, Cibalong, Garut Regency, West Java, on Monday, May 12, 2025. Expired ammunition exploded during disposal by the Indonesian Army at around 9:30 a.m., killing 13 people—nine civilians and four soldiers.

TNI Information Center chief Major General Kristomei Sianturi confirmed the tragic incident. Kristomei said the military is investigating the cause of the explosion.

The TNI’s Head of Public Information, Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana explained the chronology of the explosion, which was caused by detonation during the ammunition disposal in Garut.

"At the beginning of the activity, all personnel and related individuals at the explosion site had been checked according to procedure and were declared safe," Wahyu explained.

TNI personnel had dug two holes to dispose of expired munitions, inserted the ammunition, and carried out a controlled detonation.

"The detonation in these two holes proceeded perfectly under safe conditions," said Brigadier General Wahyu.

Afterward, the team prepared a separate hole to destroy the detonator used in the earlier blast.

The detonator was placed in the hole for disposal using the same method. However, Wahyu said, "While the ammunition assembly team was arranging the detonator in the hole, an explosion suddenly occurred from inside the hole."