Dozens of Businesses on Central Java's North Coast Destroyed by Fire, Losses in Billions of Rupiah

A major fire struck several areas along the northern coast of Central Java from Monday (24/8) until the early hours of Tuesday (25/8). The incident destroyed dozens of business premises and resulted in estimated losses reaching billions of rupiah.

Based on observations on Tuesday (25/8), hundreds of residents were still gathered at the site of the debris of dozens of kiosks at Sedo Village Market Block G, Demak District/Regency, Central Java. The traders who became victims could only stand transfixed, watching their business premises and merchandise reduced to ashes.

Demak Police Chief, First Inspector Rudi Tri Sayogo, confirmed that there were no fatalities in the incident in his area. However, the fire, which began to blaze on Monday (24/8) at around 11.00 pm Western Indonesia Time, destroyed at least 62 kiosks at Sedo Village Market Block G.

“Until now, the police are still conducting an investigation. However, the preliminary suspicion is that the fire occurred due to an electrical short circuit from one of the kiosks in the market. Losses are estimated to reach Rp1.2 billion,” said Rudi Tri Sayogo on Tuesday (25/8).

The fire was first noticed by a market guard, who then attempted to extinguish it manually together with residents. However, the rapidly growing flames forced officers to deploy several fire engines and dozens of combined personnel from the police, fire brigade, Regional Disaster Management Agency, and the state electricity company to tame the blaze.

At a different location, a fire also struck a furniture warehouse in Dongos Village, Kedung District, Jepara Regency, in the early hours of Tuesday (25/8) at around 4.32 am. The incident briefly triggered panic among hundreds of local residents.

Head of the Jepara Regency Civil Service Police Unit and Fire Brigade, Edy Marwoto, explained that the first report was received from Nor Mokhamad Syaikhuna, 35, a resident of Sowan Lor. Three fire engines were deployed to the location to extinguish the fire that was burning wooden materials inside the warehouse.

“It is currently still in the cooling-down process. The first reporter saw smoke billowing from inside the warehouse, which was then followed by flames spreading very quickly,” said Edy.

Meanwhile, a fire also struck the shipbuilding yard belonging to H Wasto in Seturi Hamlet, North Karangasem Urban Village, Batang District, Batang Regency. The fire, suspected to have originated from the remains of burning scrap wood, nearly devastated the wooden shipbuilding site.

Batang Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Warsono, stated that a combined team from the fire brigade and the Regional Disaster Management Agency was immediately deployed to localise the fire so that it would not spread to residential areas.

“Most of the shipbuilding materials in the form of bengkere wood were completely burned. However, the swift action of officers at the location prevented the fire from spreading further. It is suspected that the fire originated from burning remains that had not been fully extinguished,” concluded Warsono.