Fire hits Menteng, 200 left homeless

JAKARTA (JP), Fire razed 40 houses in Menteng Atas, South Jakarta, on Saturday, resulting in more than 200 people losing their accommodation (see photo). No casualties were reported.

Police said the cause of the fire was still under investigation but fire brigade officials told The Jakarta Post that they were sure it was caused by a stove exploding in one of the houses.

Sgt. Joni of the Setiabudi Police Subprecinct said that seven people had been questioned but nobody was arrested.

The financial losses were still being calculated, he said.

According to Mahuri, Head of South Jakarta Fire Department, the fire, which affected an area of 2,000 square meters, started at 2.30 a.m., and the firemen reached the location about an hour later.

"But the fire could only be subdued at 8.00 a.m., because the water source is located quite far away," he said.

The fire victims are now sheltering at the local subdistrict office and in makeshift tents while members of various youth organizations helped manage food supplies. (08/jun)