MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - A two-story luxury house in the exclusive Grand Polonia residential area on Jalan Mustang, Medan Polonia District, North Sumatra, completely collapsed on Monday afternoon (July 20, 2026), following a suspected explosion involving an underground gas pipeline. The incident left six people affected, with four individuals still trapped beneath the rubble.
The sudden explosion caused the building to collapse within moments. Construction materials were scattered across the entire property area, covering almost every section of the house. Apart from destroying the main structure of the building, the force of the blast also damaged several nearby facilities and vehicles parked around the residence.
Residents who were near the scene reported hearing a loud explosion shortly before the building collapsed. Initial assessments suggested that the blast may have originated from an underground gas pipeline network belonging to Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), which was located near the house.
The incident occurred while several construction workers were carrying out renovation work inside the luxury residence. The ongoing renovation activities are believed to have possibly contributed to the circumstances surrounding the explosion, which later caused the two-story house to collapse.
POLICE CHIEF PROVIDES RESCUE UPDATE: Medan Police Chief Police Commissioner Jean Calvin Simanjuntak delivers information regarding the victim evacuation process following the explosion at a luxury house in Grand Polonia Medan. (PHOTO: Archive)
Six People Affected, Two Victims Rescued
Medan Police Chief Police Commissioner Jean Calvin Simanjuntak confirmed that the victims included members of the homeowner's family as well as several domestic workers.
"Two victims, including a grandson and his father, have been evacuated. Both were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment," Jean Calvin Simanjuntak said at the scene.
A joint emergency response team consisting of police officers, rescue personnel, and related government agencies immediately began searching for additional victims after receiving reports of the building collapse. Rescue teams are working to locate people who remain buried beneath the debris.
As of the publication of this report, four victims are still believed to be trapped under the collapsed structure. Rescue operations are continuing, with officers working carefully due to concerns that the damaged building remains unstable.
"Based on the current assessment, there are still four people inside the house. We hope for the best. The police and all involved teams continue to take every possible measure to carry out the evacuation as quickly and safely as possible," Calvin stated.
Rescue Teams Conduct Careful Search Amid Debris
The search operation is being carried out with extreme caution. Rescue personnel are removing debris gradually to prevent additional risks caused by possible further collapses.
Police have also established a security perimeter around the incident site to restrict public access. Residents and unauthorized individuals have been urged to stay away from the collapsed area to ensure their own safety and avoid disrupting the rescue operation.
In addition to searching for victims, investigators continue to gather information and examine the exact cause of the explosion. Initial findings indicate a possible leak or disruption within the underground gas pipeline network in the surrounding area.
Emergency teams are also assessing the condition of the building, questioning witnesses, and examining individuals who were present at the scene when the incident occurred. The investigation results are expected to determine the precise cause of the explosion and subsequent collapse.
RESCUE TEAM CONDUCTS SEARCH AND EVACUATION: A joint emergency response team searches for victims and evacuates people trapped beneath the rubble after the suspected underground gas pipeline explosion caused the house to collapse. (PHOTO: Archive)
Police Secure Area and Investigate Explosion Cause
Police have ensured that all necessary measures are being taken, particularly to rescue the remaining missing individuals. The joint response teams will continue operations until all victims are located and safely evacuated.
The area surrounding the luxury house remains under government supervision. Police have appealed to the public to avoid the location, as the damaged building structure could still pose a danger.
The collapse of the house in Grand Polonia Medan has drawn significant attention from residents. In addition to the injured and possible fatalities, the incident caused major damage to the building and surrounding infrastructure.
Emergency teams remain at the location to ensure that the evacuation process is carried out safely and that the exact cause of the explosion that destroyed the two-story luxury house can be determined.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala