Fire destroys 17 shops

Fire destroys 17 shops

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Fire gutted 17 shops in the Siantan shopping center on Monday, police said yesterday.

The fire started from a shop belonging to Sukartoni at 12 p.m. It rapidly spread due to the blowing wind under the scorching sun, said the spokesman for the West Kalimantan police command, First Lt. Suhadi SW.

Fire fighters managed to put out the fire only 90 minutes later largely because most of the buildings were made of wood and under the same roof, he said.

There were no injuries caused by the incident and the authorities are still estimating the losses, Antara reported. (pan)