Blora – A major fire that is still raging at Pertamina's oil and gas exploration field in Cepu in Central Java has displaced more than 1,000 villagers.

The blaze broke out on Monday at an unfinished well and spread to other nearby wells and buildings at the site in Blora district, sending more than 4,000 residents of villages near the fire fleeing.

Although most of them have since returned home, hundreds were still refusing to go back yesterday. They said they would return only after the local administration and Pertamina gave iron-clad guarantees that their villages were truly safe to live in.

The state-owned oil-and-gas company said it would take at least five weeks to extinguish the fire. Spokesman Adyatma said the well would be capped and mud would be pumped into it.

Displaced villagers said they would claim financial compensation from Pertamina for the suffering and material losses caused by the fire, which has also affected tens of hectares of rice fields and other crops.

Deputy chairman Kusnanto, of the Blora regency legislature, said the legislative council would seek answers from Pertamina regarding its stance on paying compensation to the affected villagers.