Exploding cigarette costs man six teeth

man smoking a cigarette

An Indonesian tobacco company has agreed to pay the medical expenses of a man who lost six teeth when a cigarette he was smoking exploded.

The cigarette blew up in Andi Susanto's mouth while he was riding his motorcycle in Bekasi, near Jakarta. He lost six teeth and received 51 stitches.

Mr Susanto told Metro TV in an interview from his hospital bed that cigarette producer PT Nojorono Tobacco Indonesia was paying for his medical treatment.

"The company's officials have talked to my family and we agreed to settle it amicably, as an out-of-court settlement," he said through bandaged lips.

"They will pay all the medical expenses."

The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Mr Susanto said he wasn't chewing anything when he lit the Clas Mild cigarette, and didn't notice anything strange about its odour, colour or taste.

The victim, who has been smoking since primary school, said he was shocked by the incident.

"It had been always fine. The incident was all so unexpected," said the 31-year-old, who works as a security guard.

He admitted that he was traumatised by the incident and would try to quit smoking.

Tulus Abadi, from the Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation, said there was only a small chance the explosion was triggered by the ingredients of the cigarette.

"From around 4,000 chemical substances found in a cigarette, there is one substance that is identical to a substance used to formulate rocket fuel," Tulus told The Jakarta Post, referring to methanol.

"But although it exists in cigarettes, I think the amount is too small to trigger an explosion."

Muhammad Warsianto, NTI's senior adviser, confirmed that its products, branded as Clas Mild, did not contain any explosive materials.

Mr Warsianto said the company assisted with the medical bill as a form of sympathy to "a loyal customer".

© Sky News 2010