Explosion at Grand Polonia Medan House Kills One, Two Victims Still Missing

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - A massive explosion at a house in the Grand Polonia residential complex on Mustang Street, Sukadamai Subdistrict, Medan Polonia District, Medan City, North Sumatra, claimed the life of one person, while two other victims are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris of the collapsed building.

A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team conducting operations at the scene successfully evacuated one deceased victim in the early hours of Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The victim was identified as Jesika, the wife of the homeowner whose residence became the location of the explosion.

First Victim Recovered From Collapsed Building Debris

Rescue personnel discovered Jesika's body in the bathroom area on the second floor of the house. At the time of discovery, the victim was found buried beneath a pile of construction materials that collapsed after the explosion caused the second and third floors of the building to completely collapse.

The evacuation process was extremely difficult and required a significant amount of time. The severely damaged condition of the structure forced rescuers to work carefully, as piles of rubble blocked access to the area where the victim was located.

Head of the Medan Search and Rescue Office (Kakansar Medan), Heri Marantika, said the SAR team had temporarily halted the search operation due to dangerous conditions at the site.

"The SAR team temporarily stopped the search because access conditions were highly vulnerable and dangerous. However, after deploying heavy equipment and complete supporting equipment from the Public Works Agency, the search on the second floor resumed until the first victim was successfully evacuated," Heri Marantika said.

Two Victims Believed Trapped Beneath Rubble

Based on information collected by officers at the scene, the explosion affected six people who were inside or around the house when the incident occurred.

The victims included the homeowner's parents, a toddler, a package courier who had just delivered an order, the homeowner's wife Jesika who was later found deceased, a domestic helper, and a babysitter.

Of the six victims, authorities are still searching for two individuals, namely the domestic helper and the babysitter. Both are believed to remain trapped beneath building materials on the second floor of the severely damaged house.

The joint SAR team continues to carry out a gradual search operation to locate the two missing victims. Various supporting equipment, including heavy machinery, has been deployed to clear access routes covered by collapsed debris.

The unstable condition of the building remains the biggest challenge during the search process. Rescuers must prioritize personnel safety before carrying out each stage of evacuation to prevent additional risks at the scene.

Authorities Continue Evacuation and Investigation Efforts

Medan Police Chief Commissioner Jean Calvin Simanjuntak stated that combined personnel from various agencies remain stationed at the location to assist with the search operation and post-explosion response.

According to him, the operation involves personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), Fire Department, Public Works Agency (PU), and medical teams.

All joint personnel continue efforts to penetrate the collapsed debris to locate the missing victims. In addition to search operations, officers are securing the surrounding area to anticipate potential hazards.

As of Tuesday, July 21, 2026, when this report was published, officers were still conducting careful searches at the scene. The joint team continues to ensure that the surrounding area remains safe throughout the evacuation process.

Meanwhile, the exact cause of the explosion that destroyed the house in the Grand Polonia residential complex remains under investigation by police. Authorities are collecting information and conducting examinations to determine the source of the blast that caused extensive damage to the building.

Cause of Explosion Remains Under Investigation

Police have yet to release a conclusion regarding the cause of the explosion at the residence. Site inspections and evidence collection are still being carried out by relevant authorities.

The sudden blast caused most of the house structure to collapse. Construction materials from the second and third floors fell, making the victim search process more challenging.

The joint SAR team confirmed that the search operation will continue until all victims are found. Authorities have also urged residents living near the location to stay away from the incident area during the ongoing emergency response operation for safety reasons. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala