E. Jakarta fire leaves 700 homeless

E. Jakarta fire leaves 700 homeless

INDONESIA: A devastating fire razed hundreds of overcrowded
houses in Pedongkelan, Pulogadung district, East Jakarta, on
Saturday morning, leaving hundreds of families homeless.

No fatalities were reported in the incident.

The fire began at 10 a.m. at a house belonging to nasi uduk
(rice cooked in coconut milk) vendor, Ahmad. It spread quickly as
winds fanned the flames, burning most of the houses in the area,
made of wood and plywood.

Hundreds of panicking residents attempted to extinguish the
fire by pouring drain water onto it but failed as the flames were
too intense.

Ten fire trucks deployed to the scene were also unable to
extinguish the fire immediately due to the high housing density
and narrow paths in the area.

Eventually, the fire was extinguished at 11:30 a.m., after
razing houses in neighborhood units 2 and 3 and dozens of other
houses in neighborhood unit 4.

Pulogadung Police subprecinct chief Comr. Syamsurizal told The
Jakarta Post that the fire had left 700 residents, or 204
families, homeless.

Some residents, who managed to save their belongings, put them
along the roadside on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan, causing heavy
traffic congestion. -- JP