Fire claims two lives

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The wife and teenage daughter of Langkat regency's official M. Achyar died yesterday when fire gutted their residence, Antara reported.

Achyar, 54, is in a critical condition at the Surya Stabat Hospital in Langkat, some 40 kilometers west of here.

The remains of Hartini Siregar and 15-year-old Fitri Yulianti were found among the rubble of the house on Jl. Proklamasi in Kuala Bingei village.

It was reported that Achyar and his family were fast asleep when the fire broke out. An investigation is underway, but police suspect that an electric short-circuit caused the fire. (21/swe)