At least 13 killed in explosion during disposal of expired ammunition in Indonesia

Explosion during ammunition disposal in Indonesia kills 13, including soldiers, sparking investigation into cause and safety procedures.

An explosion during the disposal of expired ammunitions in Indonesia's West Java province on Monday (May 12, 2025) killed at least 13 people, including four soldiers, Military officials said.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.

Members of the Indonesian Army were carrying out the disposal of unusable and expired ammunition — which had been stored in a Military warehouse centre — in an environmental conservation area in Sagara village of Garut district.

The initial explosion was shortly followed by another blast, said Major General Kristomei Sianturi, the Indonesian Military spokesperson.

Nine civilians and four Army members were killed, Major General Sianturi said, adding that several other people were being treated for various injuries.

The cause of the incident is still being investigated, with a focus on whether the standard procedure for ammunition disposal was followed, Major General Sianturi said.

The location — vacant land under the management of West Java's Natural Resources Conservation Agency — is far from residential areas and often used for munitions disposal.