Fire hits North Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Some 2,600 people have been left homeless after a fire destroyed their homes in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, late Sunday night. No fatalities were reported.

A source at the mayoralty Fire Department told The Jakarta Post yesterday that a candle in a house is suspected to have caused the fire which razed 794 houses on Jl. Tanah Pasir in the North Jakarta district of Penjaringan.

Sixteen fire engines were deployed to put out the fire which started at 11:55 p.m. It took officers seven hours to completely extinguish the flames.

The fire inflicted an estimated loss of Rp 1,2 billion, local authorities speculated.

Deputy Governor R. Moeseno visited the victims at their make- shift shelters around the fire-ravaged area yesterday and brought them several items of emergency aid. (yns/14)