The National Police’s forensic laboratory has concluded an investigation into a blast on the Gili Cat 2 near Padangbai Harbor in Karangasem regency, Bali, on Thursday, saying no explosives were found on the fast boat.
“The explosion was not triggered by explosive material,” head of the police’s Denpasar forensic laboratory, Koesnadi, told a press conference on Monday.
He said the blast was caused by a leak from the boat’s fuel tank, which was connected to its three engines. The fuel, he said, leaked out of the tank and filled an area under the deck that housed an electricity system channel.
Sparks were then triggered below deck. “It was the electrical disturbance that caused sparks that eventually led to the explosion,” said Koesnadi.
Reuters
He explained that during the investigation, the forensic team found a broken 3-inch piece of PVC pipe where the boat’s electricity was channeled from the engine to a storage battery.
“When the boat sailed, maybe there was a shock that further weakened the electricity channel, causing electrical sparks that triggered the explosion,” Koesnadi said.
The blast killed two tourists and injured 19 others. The boat, which was carrying 35 foreign tourists, was en route to the Gili Islands in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The incident occurred around 200 meters from Padangbai.
Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Anak Agung Made Sudana said the police’s investigation into the accident was ongoing.
“As of now, we haven’t named any suspects in the case,” Sudana said. (ebf)
