Fire guts garment warehouse

JAKARTA: Fire destroyed a North Jakarta garment warehouse when flames raced through the structure early Thursday morning, despite the efforts of more than 80 firefighters.

In all, 12 fire engines with 84 firefighters descended on the building, located at Jl. Pademangan II, Gunung Sahari, North Jakarta, just across the Academy of the Maritime compound.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

The Pademangan Police deployed dozens of officers there to prevent any looting, according to Antara.

In a separate incident, the news agency reported on a house fire that was caused by a candle which fell on a mattress, and spread to two other rooms.

That incident took place late at night in a densely-populated area on Jl. Mangga Besar IV, West Jakarta.

Twelve fire engines rushed to the scene and, within an hour, firefighters extinguished the flames.

Hendra, the house owner, said the material losses were more than Rp 65 million.

Even in a metropolitan city like Jakarta, not everybody has access to electricity.

Many people must instead rely on kerosene lamps or candles -- which are often the cause of fires, especially in the slums. --JP