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Two killed in powerful blast in Indonesia
A powerful explosion rips through a residential area in a central Indonesian town, killing two people.
A powerful explosion ripped through a residential area in a central Indonesian town on Saturday, killing two people, state news agency Antara and other media reported.
The explosion in Pasuruan on Java island blew the head off one of the victims and destroyed eight houses and damaged scores of others, Antara said.
The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.
Officials were not immediately available for comment.
Gas explosions and industrial accidents are common in Indonesia, but police will also be investigating whether the blast was caused by a bomb.
The country has been hit by a string of bombings by Islamic terrorists since 2002, including suicide bombings in Jakarta and on the resort island of Bali that together killed more than 240 people.
Police have arrested more than 200 militants in the bombings, but both they and foreign governments warn that extremists are planning further attacks in the country, which has more Muslims than any other.
