At least 55 people have been injured after a series of explosions shook a mosque inside a high school complex in Indonesia on Friday, triggering panic among students and teachers. The blasts took place at a school campus in West Java, just as students were preparing for prayers inside the mosque area.
Local police said the source of the explosion appears to have come from near the mosque’s loudspeaker system, though the exact material that caused the blast remains unclear. Investigators are now examining fragments of wiring and sound equipment. No official determination has been made yet on whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.
Witnesses reported hearing two to three loud blasts in quick sequence. Students ran out into the courtyard screaming, and several were seen with burns and cuts from flying debris. Emergency responders rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, and authorities confirmed that at least seven victims are in serious condition.
Indonesian police have sealed off the area and are interviewing school staff, electricians, and maintenance workers who last handled the sound equipment. A senior official said early signs point to a malfunction or short-circuit, but “all angles are being considered.”
Parents gathered outside the campus shortly after news spread, many in tears, trying to locate their children. Government officials and education ministry representatives expressed concern and promised a full investigation.
Indonesia’s religious affairs department also issued a statement urging schools and places of worship to recheck electrical and sound equipment safety standards, especially as mosques frequently use loudspeaker systems during prayer hours.
The school remains closed while forensic teams continue their work. Authorities say a public update will be issued once more technical findings come in.