37 Homes Destroyed, 245 Residents Displaced in Kandea Road Fire, Makassar

Thick black smoke was still billowing over the densely populated settlement on Jalan Kandea as firefighters battled the blaze on Monday night (10/8). Within minutes, the tightly packed semi-permanent houses were reduced to charred rubble.

A total of 37 homes were reported damaged, 25 of which were razed to the ground. More distressingly, 245 people from 60 households have now lost their shelter, including 30 toddlers, 63 children, 11 elderly residents and one pregnant woman who barely managed to escape.

The fire was first reported at around 8.10 pm local time. The provisional cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit, though authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation.

Panic spread faster than the flames. Alleyways just one metre wide, which normally served as passageways for residents, became deadly traps.

However, thanks to the rapid response of dozens of fire engines deployed to the scene, the blaze was brought under control before it could spread to a wider residential area. A total of 50 fire engines were dispatched in this high-risk operation, an extraordinary number for an area with limited access.

Two residents were reported to have sustained minor injuries. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, despite the fire being spread across two neighbourhood units: 20 homes in RT 03/RW 04 and 17 others in RT 04/RW 04, both densely populated.

“Once the fire was extinguished, we immediately carried out an assessment. The priority now is to ensure that children, toddlers, the elderly and the pregnant woman receive their basic needs,” said Makassar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Chief Executive M Fadly.

BPBD Makassar has identified a number of urgent needs that must be met immediately: tarpaulins for emergency shelters, family kits, baby kits, first aid kits, decent clothing, sarongs and blankets.

Beyond physical needs, BPBD is also preparing psychosocial support and trauma healing services, particularly for children who are likely to suffer psychological impacts after witnessing their homes consumed by fire.

“The government must be present. We will ensure that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of residents’ homes proceeds,” he stressed.

Previously, a fire also occurred in Tallo District that destroyed 57 homes belonging to residents, and yesterday a fire broke out at a shopping centre.