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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Hydrogen Gas Suspected as Cause of Mysterious Fires in Sleman Home

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Researchers suspect hydrogen gas is the cause of mysterious fires repeatedly appearing in a Sleman home.
  • Initial investigations detected methane, but later measurements found high concentrations of hydrogen, particularly near the bathroom.
  • Scientists are exploring whether the gas originates from liquid waste, such as chicken processing waste, or from underground sources.

A team of researchers from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Indonesia suspects hydrogen gas is the cause of mysterious fires that have repeatedly ignited in a Sleman resident's home. The phenomenon began appearing in the Kasuran Hamlet, Margomulyo Village, Seyegan District.

The preliminary investigation results indicate that the appearance of fire is associated with the presence of hydrogen gas.

— Prof. Alva Edy TontowiChairman of the Center for Entropy Slowing Studies at UGM's Faculty of Engineering, explaining the initial findings.

Initial investigations on May 30, 2026, detected methane gas at several fire locations, based on information from the Yogyakarta Regional Police's Gegana unit. However, thermal camera observations showed no significant temperature anomalies, with ambient temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius.

A crucial finding emerged on June 1, 2026, when measurements revealed a high concentration of hydrogen gas, especially in the bathroom area where fires had previously occurred. During the measurement, a fire reignited in a room, and direct readings near the spot showed a hydrogen concentration of 0.40.

The measurement showed a concentration of hydrogen gas quite high in several locations, especially in the bathroom area which was previously a point where fire appeared.

— Prof. Agung HarijokoHead of the UGM team from the Department of Geological Engineering, describing the gas measurements.

Further measurements on June 3, 2026, using different instruments, confirmed the presence of hydrogen gas but no other flammable gases. Researchers are now investigating two potential sources: gas originating from liquid waste, possibly from chicken processing, or gas escaping from the ground. They also consider the possibility of phosphine gas, which can ignite at room temperature and act as a primer for hydrogen.

The detector showed a hydrogen gas concentration reaching 0.40 around the point where the fire appeared.

— Prof. Agung HarijokoHead of the UGM team from the Department of Geological Engineering, detailing the measured hydrogen levels.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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