53 subdistricts at risk for fire

JAKARTA: The city's top firefighter, Johnni Pangaribuan, said on Wednesday 53 of 167 subdistricts in the city's five mayoralties were at risk for fire, particularly those districts with large slum areas.

"Shacks in slum areas are usually made of wood and other flammable materials," he said.

Johnni said the small alleyways in slum areas made access difficult, hampering the work of firefighters.

According to data from the fire department, there are at least two fires a day in the city.

Johnni said there had been over 400 fires in the city since the start of the year.

A lack of human resources and substandard equipment are the main difficulties facing the department, Johnni said.

He also said that Jakarta only had 900 hydrants across the city, far below the ideal number of 20,000. -- JP