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)