Fire damages discotheque

JAKARTA (JP): A fire partially burned a discotheque and karaoke hall building in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Sunday night.

No fatalities were recorded during the fire which was first noticed at 9:45 p.m. by a singer at the Scorpion Dangdut Discotheque and Karaoke Hall.

Mirna Sari, 27, another singer, recalled that there were only a few customers when the fire broke out on the second floor.

"Only three tables were occupied," she was quoted by Antara wire service as saying.

The fire, however, caused the customers and dozens of singers and staff to hastily leave the building.

Staff Yadi said the fire spread so quickly that he was unable to continue using the discotheque's fire extinguishers.

The fire was put out about two hours later, after 12 fire engines were dispatched to the site.

Central Jakarta Fire Department chief, Robert, estimated that an electrical short circuit caused the fire.

"They (owners) used many colorful bulbs and the building is made of flammable materials like wood and plastic," he said. (bsr)