Fifteen die in BI building blaze

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