Fire guts Sabang shops

JAKARTA (JP): Fire gutted at least five stores and houses in the business area of Jl. Sabang in Central Jakarta early on Sunday. No casualties were reported.

The fire started in the Natrabu restaurant at about 2:50 a.m. and due to strong winds quickly spread to nearby stores.

Five fire engines rushed to the spot about 15 minutes. Fire- fighters and local residents managed to put out the fire within two hours.

"The fire might have started from the pray room inside our restaurant. We are changing the carpet in the room," one of the restaurant employees said on Sunday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The police closed down the street due to the fire and reopened it at 9 a.m.

Losses caused by the fire are still being assessed. (dja)