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)