BLITAR – Balloon firecracker explosion investigation in Blitar Regency remains ongoing as police continue gathering evidence following a deadly incident that killed one person and injured two children in Tambakan Village, Gandusari District.
Investigators from the Blitar Police Criminal Investigation Unit have not named any suspects. Officers are waiting for the two injured children to recover before conducting formal interviews and completing key stages of the investigation.
Blitar Police Criminal Investigation Chief AKP Margono said the victims’ health remains the top priority. Although investigators have obtained preliminary information, the children are not yet in a condition that allows them to provide official statements.
“Our current focus is the victims’ recovery. We have collected initial information, but we will wait until doctors declare them fit before conducting formal questioning,” Margono said on Wednesday.
The explosion involved a hot-air balloon carrying firecrackers. The incident claimed one life and left two children with injuries that required medical treatment.
According to early findings, investigators suspect that one of the injured children may have ordered and assembled the firecrackers used in the balloon. However, police have not reached any conclusions regarding criminal responsibility.
Margono emphasized that investigators still need more evidence. They also need complete witness statements before determining who may have played a role in the incident.
So far, police have questioned four witnesses. The witnesses include family members and people who know details about the incident. Investigators continue collecting information from all available sources.
Police are also examining a mobile phone believed to belong to one of the injured children. Investigators suspect the device may contain evidence related to the purchase of the firecrackers.
“The phone may have been used to order the firecrackers through social media. However, the explosion damaged the device, and we cannot access the data yet,” Margono said.
He added that initial information points to TikTok as the platform used for the purchase. Because the phone no longer works, investigators requested a digital forensic examination from the East Java Regional Police.
If experts recover the data, investigators can review transaction records and communication history. The information may help clarify how the firecrackers were obtained.
Margono said police will continue the investigation until they gather all necessary evidence. Officers will then evaluate the findings before deciding whether criminal charges apply.
“If the evidence leads to a child, we will handle the case according to the juvenile criminal justice system and provide assistance through child protection authorities,” he said.
Police stress that they will only name suspects after completing the evidence-gathering process. Investigators also want to verify all witness testimony and forensic findings before taking further legal action.