Four-hour blaze destroy 240 homes<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Susi, 43, was still sound asleep when she was suddenly awoken by
\nher neighbors shouting that her house, located in Kota Bambu
\nUtara subdistrict, West Jakarta, was on fire.<\/p>\n
She took few minutes to realize what was happening before she
\nand her husband rushed out, saving all three of their children
\nbut leaving their belongings behind to be consumed by the flames.<\/p>\n
The fire on Saturday started in Kota Bambu Utara at about 2:30
\na.m. and quickly spread to the neighboring subdistrict of
\nJatipulo. Most residents were sleeping when the fire started.<\/p>\n
The blaze caused no fatalities.<\/p>\n
While waiting for the fire department to arrive, residents
\nattempted to douse the flames with water from the Sekretaris
\nRiver, which flows through the area.<\/p>\n
Twenty-five fire trucks and support vehicles from both West
\nand Central Jakarta had difficulty in getting to the location in
\nthe densely populated slum area, while a strong breeze quickly
\nfanned the blaze. The fire was only extinguished at about 6 a.m.<\/p>\n
At least 240 families lost their homes to the fire, which
\naccording to the police was caused by a short circuit.<\/p>\n
However, residents, who are now sheltering in a number of
\nlocal schools, say that the fire was ignited by the son of the
\nfamily whose house went on fire first. They said he was holding a
\ncandle before the fire started and had tried to commit suicide
\ntwice.<\/p>\n
Kota Bambu Utara subdistrict chief Eko Saptono said Kota Bambu
\nUtara and Jatipulo subdistricts, helped by West Jakarta's social
\naffairs agency, would erect tents and public kitchens on Sunday.<\/p>\n
"The temporary shelters and public kitchens will be put up at
\nJunior High School No. 130, the closest to the affected
\nneighborhoods," Eko was quoted as saying by Antara on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Eko said 512 residents, or a total of 129 families, from his
\nsubdistrict had lost their homes. Meanwhile, Jatipulo subdistrict
\nchief Sriatun Kurniati said 120 families from her subdistrict had
\nbeen affected by the fire.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-hour-blaze-destroy-240-homes-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}