Fire destroys 120 houses

Fire destroys 120 houses

JAKARTA (JP): Six hundred people were left homeless after fire
destroyed more than 120 houses on Jl. Kampung Rawa Raya in Johar
Baru district, Central Jakarta, yesterday.

There were no fatalities in the fire which started at 6:45
a.m. and spread quickly through the densely populated area in the
Kampung Rawa subdistrict.

Witnesses claimed the explosion of a kerosene stove in one of
the houses was to blame for the blaze.

"A woman allegedly left her house to go to a nearby market but
forgot to turn off the stove on the second floor of the house,
which is owned by Ujang," Imran, a witness, said.

But firefighter Sunarjo said the blaze was sparked by a short
circuit and caused about Rp 500 million (US$138,888) in damage.

Sunarjo said three people -- the owner of the house Ujang, 45,
and twin babies aged two-and-a-half and identified as Sjahril and
Sjahrul -- were injured in the blaze and treated at Cipto
Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

Central Jakarta Fire Department deployed 20 fire engines and
managed to extinguish the fire at 9:30 a.m, he said.

All of the homeless residents were given temporary shelter at
a public hall in the subdistrict. A health post and communal
kitchen have also been set up. (jun)