Family of four burned to death

Family of four burned to death

TANGERANG (JP): A family of four was burnt to death on early
Sunday morning at their home on Jl. Cempaka 10 in the Bumi Indah
housing complex Sukamantri village in Pasar Kemis, Tangerang.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis identified the
family as Sumardi, 32, his wife Mariani, 23, and their two
children: Nugroho, one-and-a-half and Erna, two-and-a-half.

"Nobody knows the cause of the fire. Police are still
investigating its source. The fire burned down houses number 18,
19, 20 and 21 on that street. Sadly, the family living at number
20 were fast asleep," Zainuri said.

"The fire started at about 3:25 a.m. Firefighters with three
fire engines put out the fire an hour later. All four houses were
gutted."

According to one of the victims' neighbors, Mrs. Harti, 27,
Sumardi and his family were found dead in the bathroom of their
house, holding onto each other.

"At that time, I just heard screams ... at least twice, asking
for help. But we could do nothing because the fire spread quickly
to the other empty houses to the right and to the left of
Sumardi's house," said Harti, who lives in front of the family's
house.

She said Sumardi and his family had lived in the complex for
at least two years and that most of the other houses in the area
were standing vacant.

"I screamed many times for help, but nobody appeared," Harti
said.

Harti and her neighbors said they believed the fire was
ignited from a gas stove at Sumardi's house as the family began
their sahur (the predawn meal before the fast). (ylt/41)