Bandung shoe factory razed

BANDUNG, West Java: A fire razed PT Primarindo, said to be one of the biggest shoe factories in Asia, causing losses of hundreds of millions of rupiah.

The fire occurred in Rancabolong, Gedebage district on Friday at dawn. It took five-hours before the fire was extinguished.

No fatalities were reported.

The head of the factory's personnel division Agus Hariadi said there is strong suspicion that the fire was caused by arson, noting that the factory's nearby waste deposit was intentionally set on fire.

While there is no evidence to link an earlier incident, factory workers held a protest just a few days earlier.

"There is a possibility that certain parties did this on purpose after the workers protest a couple of days earlier," Agus said as quoted by Antara.

Local police are investigating the cause of fire.(dja)