Fire claims two lives

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)