Fire destroys 'TVRI' building and studio
JAKARTA (JP): A fire destroyed a broadcasting studio inside the state-owned TVRI television station compound on Jl. Gerbang Pemuda in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Sunday night, causing about Rp 15 billion in material losses.
The fire, which started at about 10:30 p.m. in the control room on the second floor, destroyed the two-story Studio II, from where Dunia Dalam Berita (World News) was screened live. No fatalities were reported in the incident.
"I found out about the fire when I went out to get some food. The fire was already big. We were all running around when we heard the fire alarm," Dian Purba, one of the station's employees, said.
Nineteen fire engines, including five with retractable ladders, were deployed to put out the fire. Two ambulances were also sent to the scene in case the fire spread.
The firefighters worked tirelessly from 10:40 p.m. trying to put out the blaze, but they had difficulty bringing the fire under control because the building contained mostly flammable material.
After hours of hard work, the firefighters managed to bring control the fire by 2:20 a.m. Firefighters were still at the sight dousing embers at 2 p.m. yesterday.
A TVRI programmer, Doni, said he had to cut short the last show by 41 minutes.
"As people were in a panic, I stopped the show and ran outside. The fire had also gutted the master control room, subcontrol rooms of Studio I, II, IV, telecine room, the editing room and the technical meeting room on the second floor," he said.
The Central Jakarta Fire Department chief, Fredy Alling, told The Jakarta Post that the burned studio was an old building.
"Luckily the alarm system is still in good condition," he said.
Freddy said the cause of the fire was still being investigated. "Please wait for further explanation."
Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said at the scene that the police had taken in five TVRI employees who worked in the air-conditioning and security sections for questioning.
"The five men are currently being questioned at Central Jakarta Police Station. They probably know what happened because they were on duty when the fire broke out," Iman said.
TVRI president Azis Husein told the media that the fire would not interrupt the station's programs. "We will still be on air. We have a lot of broadcasting studios that can cover our activities."
Azis looked tired and depressed during the fire. He commented on the fire only after reporting the incident to Minister of Information Alwi Dahlan via his mobile phone at 12:15 a.m.
"Do not worry... the cameras and most of the equipment have been saved, so we can continue screening. We're still calculating the losses," Azis said.
A firefighter who asked for anonymity said that the loss would probably be more than Rp 15 billion. "The building and all the equipment were very expensive... especially in this time of monetary crisis," he said.
In a separate incident, a few hours before fire destroyed the TVRI studio, a chemical tank explosion in a warehouse occurred on Jl. Ambon in the National Bonded Zone in Cilincing, North Jakarta.
The 5:30 p.m. explosion caused a fire which was extinguished by 8:30 p.m. Fifteen fire engines were deployed.
"Actually the warehouse was gutted by fire on April 3, but maybe some of the chemical tanks were exposed to heat because the roof was in disrepair," Abdullah Bachri, head of North Jakarta Fire Department, said.
Losses in this fire are also being calculated. (edt/jun)