Fire gutters Islamic Center

A fire has gutted a large part of a mosque in the Islamic Center, the former brothel Kramat Tunggak area in North Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.

Slamet Riyanto, an officer of the North Jakarta Fire Brigade, said that the fire started at about 4:00 p.m. surrounding the dome of the mosque.

"But we don't know yet what has caused the fire. It could be an electrical short circuit," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said that the fire then spread to other parts of the mosque and to other adjacent buildings that were being constructed in the area.

No casualties were reported until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday night and 14 fire fighting trucks were still trying to extinguish the fire.

The City Administration officially closed the Kramat Tunggak brothel three years ago and started the development of an Islamic Center, consisting of several buildings including the mosque, in the complex last August.

Early last month, Governor Sutiyoso held a soft opening of the Center, including the mosque.

The official opening of the center was scheduled to be held early October. --JP