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At least 20 people were injured in a major fire in a refinery in Indonesia on Monday.

The fire was triggered in the morning by an explosion at the plant in Indramayu in West Java province, the authorities said.

Around 1,000 people who lived near the Pertamina Balongan refinery had to be brought to safety from the flames.

The residents of the village of Balongan in West Java Province went to two evacuation centers.

Several people were burned and treated in a hospital.

According to the first unsecured findings of the fire department, a lightning strike may have triggered the fire.

TV images showed explosions and thick black smoke.

Ifki Sukarya from the operating company Subholding Refining Petrochemical PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional said the plant was regularly closed to control the oil flow and prevent the flames from spreading.

The night sky is brightly lit by a fire that rages through the Pertamina Balongan Refinery

Source: dpa / -