Fire hits Menteng, 200 left homeless

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)