Cianjur, W. Java. Operations at Aurora Word in Cianjur, W. Java, were temporarily suspended on Monday after dozens of workers were affected by what witnesses described as a mass possession episode, causing panic among thousands of employees at the garment plant.

The incidents occurred twice, first around 8:30 a.m. and again at 9:20 a.m., forcing workers to flee the production floor and gather outside the facility on Jalan Raya Bandung in Sukaluyu District.

According to witnesses' accounts, the disturbance began shortly after 9 a.m., when a worker in the production room accidentally pricked her finger with a sewing needle and screamed in pain. The sudden shout triggered panic among nearby workers, some of whom began crying, hyperventilating, or collapsing. Within minutes, the situation escalated into what many interpreted as mass possession.

A 22-year-old employee identified as I said the panic spread rapidly across the factory floor. “People ran out of the building. Some helped calm others and guided them to a safe area,” she said. She added that roughly 20 workers were seen fainting or in distress during the second episode.

Local police confirmed the incident. Sukaluyu Police Chief Akhmad Tri Lesmana said officers were deployed to help stabilize the situation. “It’s true that several employees experienced possession, but the situation is now under control,” he said.

Around 30 workers were affected, according to police. Factory staff also sought help from an in-house spiritual adviser, who assisted in calming the workers before they were sent home to rest.

As of Monday afternoon, the situation at Aurora Word had returned to normal, though the company has yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the incident or measures to prevent similar occurrences.

Authorities said they would continue monitoring the situation but noted there was no indication of environmental or chemical hazards at the site.

While the event was widely described as “kesurupan,” or spirit possession, such episodes are often classified as mass psychogenic illness (MPI), a phenomenon that occurs in high-stress, high-density work environments such as garment factories. MPI typically begins with a triggering event, in this case, the scream caused by a sudden injury, which creates fear or shock among workers. In tightly packed workplaces where employees share similar stress levels, fatigue, or cultural beliefs, the panic can spread rapidly, leading to physical symptoms such as fainting, trembling, hysteria, or temporary loss of consciousness. Such symptoms are genuine and involuntary.

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