JAKARTA, INDONESIA — More than 50 individuals were injured following a powerful explosion that rocked a mosque inside a school complex in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, during Friday prayers on November 7, 2025.
According to Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri, 54 people were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor burns to serious trauma, including several students from the adjacent high school.
The explosion occurred around 12:15 PM local time at the mosque located within a naval compound, just as the sermon was beginning, causing panic among worshippers and students.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing two loud blasts followed by smoke and screams, prompting immediate evacuation and emergency response.
Authorities, including the bomb squad and the National Police’s Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88), are investigating the cause of the explosion, with early theories pointing to either an electrical short circuit or a possible improvised explosive device (IED).
While no fatalities have been confirmed, at least 20 students remain under hospital care, with three in serious condition, according to police updates.
Images from the scene showed minimal structural damage to the mosque, but ambulances and armed personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure.
The incident has raised concerns across Southeast Asia, with regional leaders monitoring the situation closely amid heightened security alerts.
In the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to confirm if any Filipino nationals were affected, but the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta is coordinating with local authorities.
The explosion comes at a time when Indonesia is preparing for the rainy season, with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issuing weather advisories for thunderstorms and strong winds across Jakarta and surrounding provinces.
Local religious leaders have condemned the incident and called for unity and vigilance, urging the public not to speculate until the investigation concludes.