Fire guts Superindo grocery store

Fire guts Superindo grocery store

TANGERANG: The police questioned four people on Monday over
the fire which gutted Superindo grocery store in Pamulang
district, Tangerang, earlier that day. No fatalities were
reported.

Pamulang subprecinct Police chief Adj. Comr. Hartono said that
the four -- two security guards employed at the store and two
vendors of a nearby food stall -- were questioned as witnesses.

"A team from the National Police's Central Forensics
Laboratory has investigated the cause of the fire. But witnesses
said that the fire started from the American-fastfood restaurant
located at the back of the building," he said.

The fire, suspected to have been caused by arson, started at
around 4 a.m. Ten fire trucks were dispatched to the scene but by
2 p.m only the smoldering remains of the store were left. Ten
policemen were seen guarding the site, pending further forensic
investigations set for Tuesday.

An official of Tangerang regency's fire department, Sudrajat,
said that his men took about 10 hours to extinguish the fire
because there were no fire hydrants nor other fire-fighting
equipment at the grocery store. --JP

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Firecracker blast kills child

TANGERANG: An 11-year-old girl died in a blast at a
firecracker factory in Ranca Pasir village, Jambe district in
Tangerang regency on Monday afternoon. The blast also seriously
injured two other teenagers.

Tangerang Police chief Sr. Comr. I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana told
The Jakarta Post that the three were working at a firecracker
factory belonging to a resident named Surdaya when the materials
used to produce firecrackers suddenly exploded.

The body of the girl, named Wati, was taken to the Tangerang
General Hospital morgue, while Pudin, 14, and Rusnandi, 15, were
rushed to Rangkas Bitung General Hospital for treatment.

Firecrackers are traditionally used in festivities, including
the Idul Fitri holiday which marks the end of the fasting month.
The sale and use of firecrackers is illegal in Greater Jakarta.
-- JP