Fire destroys 60 houses in Tanah Abang

Fire destroys 60 houses in Tanah Abang

Local residents of densely-populated Jatibaru neighborhoods in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, stand helpless as firefighters spray water on a fire blazing in the area (photo above).

Over 60 houses, including a hotel, mostly located along Jl. Jati Baru opposite the Tanah Abang train station, were burned to the ground after a fire erupted in the densely-populated Jatibaru neighborhoods in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Witnesses said that the fire began at 2.30 p.m. after a blast occurred in one of the houses located in neighborhood unit eight, and spread quickly burning almost all houses in neighborhood units seven, eight and nine.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

Only ten minutes after the fire broke out, fire brigades had arrived at the scene. A total of 12 fire engines from Central and West Jakarta were deployed.

Firemen were faced with difficulties, such as narrow alleys and an absence of water hydrants at the scene. Eventually, they were forced to pump water from the nearby Cideng river.

Despite the fire brigades' quick arrival and hard work, residents were still dissatisfied with their work.

The angry masses almost ransacked one fire engine after it moved back toward a nearby hydrant, about 300 meters away, causing the engine to cancel the move.

It took two hours for the fire fighters and locals to extinguish the blaze. -- JP