Fire destroys 62 shops

SOLO, Central Java: Fire destroyed a handicrafts center and 62 shops at Gilingan subdistrict Saturday, leaving some 57 families homeless and causing losses of approximately one billion rupiah.

There were no casualties reported.

The fire also gutted thousands of pieces of furniture in the shops and a mosque. At least 10 fire engines units deployed from the surrounding towns of Sukoharjo, Sragen and Karanganyar put out the blaze, but only after nearly four hours of work.

The residents who lost their homes to the fire are now sheltered at the home of a local neighborhood chief. (har/swe)