Fire destroys traditional markets in Tangerang, Bekasi

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Tangerang

Fires destroyed two traditional markets in Tangerang and Bekasi on Monday night and Tuesday morning, respectively, leaving more than 1,000 retailers without kiosks.

No fatalities were reported in either blaze.

The fire at the Pasar Baru traditional market on Jl. Juanda in Bekasi on Tuesday morning forced about 1,000 vendors to flee their kiosks with their merchandise.

An eyewitness, Maman, was quoted by Antara news agency saying the fire, which began at about 6:30 a.m., was thought to have been started by an explosion at an electricity terminal box in the market's Blok B/II. According to Kompas Cyber Media, a short circuit on the first floor of the market caused the fire.

Maman said vendors reported the explosion to the Bekasi office of state electricity company PLN, but the office did not respond.

Eight fire trucks arrived at the scene shortly after the fire began and did what they could to contain the blaze.

It was difficult for the trucks to reach the market, located across from the Bekasi bus terminal, due to heavy traffic and large numbers of bystanders. After about five hours, they were able to extinguish the conflagration.

Bekasi Police deployed hundreds of officers to prevent looting of the burning kiosks. They barricaded the road leading to the market and prevented people from approaching the area.

Police are investigating the case and have yet to say what caused the fire or give an estimate on the amount of losses suffered by vendors.

A fire also damaged the Swadaya Pamulang Permai II traditional market and 30 houses in Benda Baru village, Pamulang, Tangerang, on Monday night. The blaze is thought to have been started by a short circuit.

Muhamad Hasani, a neighborhood unit chief, told The Jakarta Post the fire began at about 7:30 p.m. and spread to some 50 kiosks in an hour.

Six fire trucks arrived at the site an hour after the blaze began had it extinguished at about 10:30 p.m.

"If the firemen came later, the fire would probably have engulfed the whole market," the head of the market operator, Rosyid P.S, said, calculating that the blaze caused more than Rp 2 billion (US$235,294) in losses.

Yanto, who sells household appliances at the market, said he lost all of his merchandise in the fire.

"The fast-spreading fire caused me more than Rp 50 million in losses," he said.

A mother of three, Marni, 48, has to be rushed to the hospital with shock after her house with all her belongings was lost to the fire. Her husband, Samidi, 44, told the Post the family was only able to save several pieces of clothing.

Those residents who lost their houses in fire are being temporarily housed in the nearby Attaqwa Mosque, while other residents are collecting donations from passing motorists to build a public kitchen and to buy food.

This was the second market fire of the year in Tangerang. The first was on Feb. 18 at Jombang market, which caused Rp 5 billion in losses.

Last year, 700 kiosks at the Curug market were destroyed in a blaze.