InfoSAWIT, CILEGON — A worker at a palm oil factory in the Ciwandan industrial area of Cilegon, Banten, tragically died after being trapped inside a methanol tank on Sunday (August 10, 2025) afternoon. The victim was reported to have been trapped for over an hour before being evacuated.

The workplace accident occurred around 1:00 PM WIB, while the company was manually transferring methanol from tank number 30 to tank number 29. According to Rahmatullah, a Labor Inspector from the Banten Provincial Manpower and Transmigration Office, the initial process went smoothly until there was a residue of liquid that could not be reached by the transfer hose.

"The victim entered the tank to ensure the hose reached the bottom. However, once inside, the victim was unable to exit and is believed to have fainted due to inhaling too much methanol vapor," Rahmatullah stated, as reported by InfoSAWIT from detik.com on Wednesday (August 13, 2025).

The victim's coworkers attempted to assist, but their efforts were thwarted by the overwhelming methanol exposure. "The conditions inside made it hazardous for anyone nearby," Rahmatullah added.

The company promptly contacted the Cilegon Fire Department for evacuation. Firefighters received the report around 1:00 PM and arrived at the scene shortly thereafter.

"We immediately responded after the report came in. The evacuation process took until around 3:00 PM," said Cilegon Fire Department officer Aldi Tri Tauchid.

Aldi further noted that the victim was found unconscious and later died en route to the hospital. Authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine the exact cause and to review safety procedures at the factory. (T2)