4,000 left homeless in Penjaringan fire

JAKARTA (JP): Fire gutted 682 houses and a mosque early yesterday in a densely packed residential area in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, leaving about 4,000 people homeless.

No fatalities were reported in Bandengan Utara, but a fire engine driver, Ali Basuki, was slightly wounded by residents who tried to stop the firefighters and vandalized their equipment.

"Apparently they did not want my men to put out the fire. One of the angry crowd even said 'Let it all burn... so we can suffer together'," officer Ma'un from the North Jakarta fire department said.

They also damaged a hose belonging to the fire brigade, he added.

Subdistrict officers were finally able to calm the crowd.

It was unclear what provoked residents of Jl. SD Wacung to let their belongings perish.

First spotted at 2:15 a.m., the fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in a semipermanent house belonging to a driver.

At least 15 fire engines were dispatched to fight the fire, which was finally extinguished after two hours.

As of yesterday afternoon, nearby residents, the city social agency and several non-governmental organizations had donated basic aid, including tents, food and mattresses, to the homeless, now sheltered at the local elementary school. (edt)