Medan Explosion: No Methane Gas Detected at Grand Polonia Site, PGN Awaits Official Investigation

PT PGN (Persero) Tbk has stated that no methane gas (natural gas) was detected at the site of a house explosion in the Grand Polonia area of Medan, North Sumatra. However, the company emphasized that the exact cause of the incident awaits the official investigation results from the authorities. Area Head of PGN Medan, Agus Kurniawan, expressed his concern over the incident that occurred on Monday (20/7/2026) and affected several victims. According to Agus, PGN's current priority is to secure the location by deploying technical and emergency response teams to stop gas distribution and thoroughly inspect the condition of the pipelines to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Detection results conducted by the PGN team along with authorized external parties on Monday evening showed no methane gas content detected at the scene. "The examination results at the crime scene, including on the first and second floors of the house concerned, showed a reading of 0 ppm, indicating no methane gas (natural gas) content was detected," Agus said in a statement. He added, "We continue to coordinate intensively with the authorities and local government to ensure that handling on the ground proceeds well and to monitor the developing situation, and will provide further updates." Previously, a powerful explosion destroyed a house in the Grand Polonia Complex, Medan Polonia District, Medan City, on Monday around 15:30 WIB. The explosion also damaged six to seven houses in the vicinity. Medan Police Chief Kombes Pol Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak stated that initial investigation results indicated a leak from an underground gas pipeline in the residential area. "An explosion occurred in the Grand Polonia Housing Complex, caused by an initial investigation indicating a leak from a buried gas pipe or underground gas pipeline," Calvijn told reporters at the scene. He said that officers had used gas detectors and found strong indications of a leak at that point. When the explosion occurred, six people were inside the house. Two individuals were successfully evacuated: the head of the family and a toddler, who were immediately rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, four others, consisting of the homeowner's wife and three household assistants, were trapped under the rubble. A joint team from the North Sumatra Regional Police, North Sumatra Police Mobile Brigade, Medan City Police, the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), and the Medan City Government is continuing the careful evacuation process to anticipate potential follow-up dangers.