Fire destroys discotheque

JAKARTA (JP): Fire gutted yesterday the Terminal One Discotheque at the Harco shopping center in Glodok, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta.

A West Jakarta Police Precinct captain said the fire, which began at 2:20 p.m, started in the discotheque's kitchen.

"The losses have yet to be calculated. The fire was probably caused by an electrical short circuit in the kitchen," the officer said.

West Jakarta Fire Brigade Chief Syamsir Makmur said his men found it hard to extinguish the fire because the discotheque, which was located in the building's third, fourth and fifth floors, had only one small entrance.

Twelve fire trucks, one with ladders, put out the fire at 4:30 p.m.

Discotheheque security officer M. Junaidi said only four employees, including him, were in the discotheque when the fire broke out.

He said the discotheque was supposed to open last night after closing Thursday night in line with the Governor's instruction to close for the start of Ramadhan.

He said the discotheque's owner was holidaying in Puncak, West Java.

The City Fire Brigade chief Suharsono said the fire was the fifteenth in the city this month although most were small.

The worst fire was on Jl. Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, Tuesday, in which two men, a woman and her child died. The blaze gutted a four-story shophouse which was also a garment factory. (jun)