Fire breaks out in hotel, shops in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A hotel and adjacent shops on the main street of Medan, North Sumatra, caught fire on Tuesday morning, forcing dozens of commercial sex workers to run to safety.

No casualties or injuries were reported, however.

Adj. Comr. Sandi Nugroho, the Medan Baru Police chief, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday the fire began at Hotel Sibayak on Jl. Nibung Raya at around 6:30 a.m.

It was believed to have been caused by a short circuit on the hotel's third floor, he said.

Eleven fire trucks managed to put out the fire hours later. The amount of material losses caused was not immediately known.

Winda, who was staying at the hotel, said the fire was first spotted at around 6:30 a.m., when she saw thick smoke billowing from the third floor, followed by flames.

"As the fire spread, we ran out of our rooms and out into the street in panic," she added. --JP