Medan, Indonesia—A violent gas cylinder explosion rocked a traditional market in Medan on the morning of July 7, leaving six people with burn injuries. The blast occurred near a row of food stalls just as the morning trade began. Shoppers scattered as the shockwave shattered glass and sent debris flying into the crowded aisles.

Medan City Police arrived at the scene within minutes to find the area engulfed in thick, black smoke. Traders used buckets of water to beat back the flames before fire crews could reach the deeper parts of the market. The explosion caused significant structural damage to four adjacent stalls.

Medical teams transported the six injured victims to the central hospital for emergency treatment. Two of the victims reportedly suffered severe burns to their upper bodies and remain under close observation. Hospital staff confirmed the others sustained lighter injuries from falling debris and flying glass.

Police investigators identified the source of the blast as a faulty 3-kilogram gas canister. The cylinder had been linked to a makeshift stove used by a local food vendor. Early forensic reports indicate a severe leak had been occurring for some time before the pressure triggered the detonation.

The market area remains cordoned off while police forensic teams sweep the site for further risks. Traders have been ordered to suspend operations until the safety of the remaining structures can be verified. The local government is expected to launch a snap inspection of gas usage throughout the district.

Witnesses described a sharp, metallic sound followed by a rush of intense heat. Many vendors were forced to abandon their inventory to ensure their personal safety. The sudden nature of the event brought all commercial activity in the immediate vicinity to a complete halt.

City officials have arrived to coordinate with the fire department on a wider safety audit of the facility. This incident has raised concerns regarding the maintenance of pressurized equipment in dense, informal retail settings. The police are now conducting interviews with the vendor who owned the stove.

The situation is currently stable, though the market remains closed to the public. Investigators continue to process the remnants of the explosion site. No further casualties have been reported since the initial response ended.