Fire guts turpentine warehouse

SURABAYA: The warehouse of a factory producing paint thinner on Jl. Kenjeran in Surabaya was destroyed by fire on Wednesday after four explosions were heard.

No casualties or injuries were reported in the fire, which began at about 11 a.m.

Eight workers were in the warehouse at the time of the incident. They rushed out of the building when they heard the explosions that preceded the blaze.

Eight fire trucks were deployed to put out the fire.

Tambaksari Police chief Adj. Comr. Kadarisman confirmed there were four explosions before the fire broke out.

He said the fire was the second at the factory. Police are investigating whether the factory contains all the necessary operational permits.

The owner of the factory was in Jakarta at the time of the fire. The eight workers who were in the warehouse at the time of the blaze told police investigators the factory was also used as a rented house. --JP