Fifteen die in BI building blaze

JAKARTA (JP): At least 15 people were killed in a fire which gutted the top four floors of one of Bank Indonesia's office towers on Jl. MH. Thamrin in Central Jakarta yesterday.

The fire started about 9:30 a.m. on the 23rd floor of the 25- story building -- which has been under construction since late 1996 -- and spread to the 22nd, 24th and 25th floors.

Nine of the victims suffocated to death in lifts on the 23rd and 24th floors of the building, which was scheduled to be inaugurated early next year. The other victims burned to death on the same floors.

The fire was allegedly caused by sparks from a welding tool used by construction workers on the 23rd floor.

A building in the Ministry of Finance complex on Jl. Lapangan Banteng in Central Jakarta was razed by fire on Nov. 24 and sparks from a welding tool were also blamed for the fire.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata who visited the fire site yesterday said eight people were being questioned at Central Jakarta Police precinct.

"They were at the top of the building when the fire started so we hope that they witnessed what really happened up there," he said.

The 22nd floor was used by the central bank's department for the supervision of commercial banks, while the 23rd and 24th floors were to be used for the bank directors' offices and the 25th for a banquet room.

Hamami said no important documents were burned and there was no evidence of arson.

But rumors suggested that data, including documents relating to the 16 liquidated banks, were razed in the fire. And the 22nd floor was said to have been used by central bank executives to discuss the banks.

But these rumors were rejected by Mansjurudin Nurdin, one of the central bank's directors, who said that the meeting about the banks' future was held in an adjacent building.

"Don't ask me now please ... we feel overwhelmed," Nurdin said.

Twenty-two fire engines and 145 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire in the building, which was built by private developer PT Jaya CM Manggala Pratama.

The firefighters encountered difficulties in reaching the fire as they had to haul heavy equipment up dozens of flights of stairs. At least 30 firefighters finally managed to reach the 22nd floor at 12:17 p.m.

Two explosions were heard about 1:30 p.m and they were believed to be caused by the two air conditioners exploding.

Three helicopters were used to evacuate injured victims. And four people were airlifted from the 25th floor after a helicopter managed to land on the building's helipad.

The helicopters were also used to extinguish the blaze by dumping at least 10 loads of water on the inferno.

But the head of Jakarta Fire Department, Suharso, said that the helicopters could do little to extinguishing the flames because the building was made of concrete.

He said the building was equipped with fire-fighting equipment but water sprinklers in the top floors had not worked properly.

Some of Bank Indonesia's employees said that they had only moved into the building three months ago.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire about 2 p.m. and then began the search for bodies.

As of last night, all victims had been identified by police and forensic experts.

Three of the dead were identified as central bank employees: Erika, 45, a resident of Jati Makmur, Pondok Gede in East Jakarta; Bambang Pri and Achmad Muhammad, a security officer.

The others were identified as Mustafa, Heri, Thamrin, Maxi, Jajang Mundoko, Mahasara, Didin Rohidin, Junaidi, Indarto Subagyo, Iin Solihin, Legimin and Suwardi.

They were the employees of PT Capital Mutual Corporation, a lift operator company; PT Adi Agung Perkasa, an electricity installation company and PT Fajar Mekar Jaya, a cleaning service firm.

All the bodies were sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta for postmortem examinations.

Twelve ambulances were deployed to transport both the injured and the dead.

The four people, who were evacuated by police rescue helicopter, were identified as Edi, Agus, Zaenal and Dedi, all employees of PT Capital Mutual Corporation.

The helicopter landed in the National Monument park and the men were rushed to Gambir Health Clinic. (jun/04)

Employees -- Page 3