Eight houses burn in intervillage brawl

PALU, Southeast Sulawesi: At least eight houses were razed by a fire during a fight between residents of Keleke and Pewunu villages in the Donggala regency here on Thursday.

Donggala Police deputy chief Maj. Hariono confirmed the incident on Friday, saying events unfolded too swiftly for police to intervene.

He said bad feelings between the two villages stemmed from a fight between several youths from the villages about two weeks ago.

"We tried to help settle the matter then, but apparently the bad blood between them was deeper then we thought," he said as quoted by Antara.

"There were no fatalities in Thursday's melee, except for the eight houses that got burned. Several people were hurt when they were hit by stones," Hariono said.