Explosion at Indonesian fireworks factory, kills 27, injures 43

Jakarta: An explosion and a fire at a fireworks factory in an area west of Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta have killed 27 people and injured 35, media said on Thursday, citing police and firefighters.

Television broadcast images of thick plumes of dark smoke billowing from a factory in Tangerang.

The blaze took hold at around 09:00 local time (02:00 GMT), at an industrial complex in Tangerang.

"We are still evacuating victims," Tangerang Kota police chief Harry Kurniawan said.

The exact number of casualties is still being confirmed.

"There are 103 workers in total working for this factory," Nico Afinta, director of general crime at Jakarta Police, told Indonesia's Kompas TV.

He had said that 43 people had been injured and were being treated in three hospitals, and that the remains of 23 victims had been found.