BPBD: 500 Homes in Serdang Hamlet Destroyed by Fire

Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) – The Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) said on Saturday evening (10 October) that about 500 homes had been affected by a fire in Serdang Hamlet, Jelutung 2 Village, South Bangka Regency.

“Thankfully, the fire has now been extinguished, although cooling operations are still under way,” acting provincial BPBD head Agus Afandi said in Serdang on Sunday.

He said preliminary data collected as of 7 am local time on Sunday (11 October) put the number of homes affected at around 500 and the number of people affected at 2,000. The size of the affected area was not yet known, as data collection was continuing.

He said the fire in Serdang Hamlet began at about 3.10 pm on Saturday (10 October). At that time, the commander of BPBD Bangka Belitung’s second response team received information and monitored social media reports of a land fire in Serdang Hamlet, Jelutung 2 Village, Simpang Rimba District, South Bangka Regency.

The on-duty team commander then contacted the head of the provincial BPBD’s KL division, who prepared personnel and equipment to be sent to the scene in Serdang Hamlet, Jelutung 2 Village.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. The flames reportedly started in land near the residential area before spreading to homes.

“Strong winds and dry conditions caused the fire to spread more quickly into the settlement. Most of the homes had wooden walls. The 9.10 pm update said hundreds of homes had been destroyed, but the figures were not final,” he said.