Fire guts houses left by owners

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of empty houses on Jl. Kembangan Tiga, Kwitang, Central Jakarta, caught fire on Tuesday evening while the owners were celebrating the Idul Fitri holiday at their hometowns.

An oil lamp exploded and started the fire, which then quickly set all homes nearby ablaze, Central Jakarta Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edmond Ilyas said on Wednesday.

Around 50 houses in the densely populated area were destroyed by the fire.

The fire was extinguished in an hour-and-a-half after some 34 fire engines arrived.

"They (the residents) may be shocked when they return from their holiday to find their homes ruined," Ilyas said.

Some residents stayed temporarily at the Senen subdistrict office.

Fire also destroyed a two-story house belonging to Rahmat Nasir in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Wednesday morning. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. The rented house had been left empty by the occupant, who was on leave.

Police also reported that dozens of empty huts belonging to Warmat, 45, at Kampung Cikiwul, Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, were also destroyed by fire.

Muhammad, 60, also lost his home to fire at Kampung Terep, Pasar Kemis, Tangerang.

Around 20 homes on Jl. Gedong Panjang, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, were also burned on Tuesday, while most of their occupants were still celebrating Idul Fitri at their hometowns.

In Cipulir, South Jakarta, hundreds of people lost their homes to a fire, which raged on Friday night. Police said that a short circuit had started the fire, though this was refuted by a resident who claimed it was caused by firecrackers thrown by children.