Fire Destroys 37 Homes in Densely Populated Makassar Settlement

A major fire destroyed 37 homes in a densely populated settlement on Jalan Kandea 3, Bontoala District, Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday evening. The Makassar Fire Department deployed approximately 40 fire engines and 80 personnel to tackle the blaze. Cakrawala, the department’s Head of Operations, stated that the firefighting effort lasted nearly two hours and was hampered by narrow access roads and large crowds of residents gathering at the scene. He noted that most of the structures were semi-permanent buildings built very close together, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly and made it difficult for firefighters to reach the source. While there were no fatalities, one resident was taken to hospital after being injured by sharp debris during the operation. Bontoala Police Chief, Kompol Andi Aris, said the fire was suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit. According to data from the Makassar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the fire destroyed 37 housing units, impacting 60 families comprising 245 residents. BPBD Makassar Head Fadli Tahar reported that 25 houses suffered severe damage, seven moderate damage, and five light damage. Two residents were reported to have sustained minor injuries.