Fire in Densely Populated Pulogadung Settlement, East Jakarta, Kills Three

A fire disaster struck a shop-house and business premises in a densely populated settlement in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, resulting in the deaths of three residents and leaving one person injured, according to the East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service. The incident was reported by residents in Pulogadung Village at around 3 a.m. local time. The fire is strongly suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit in a socket at one of the houses, before spreading to a grocery shop and a food stall next door. The agency stated that the fire first appeared from a socket and quickly spread to the main house belonging to Mr Samudi, before engulfing a food stall and a grocery shop on either side. Firefighters responded swiftly, with the first unit arriving at the scene at 3:04 a.m. to localise the spread of the flames and prevent them from reaching other homes. A total of 14 fire engines and 60 personnel were deployed to tackle the blaze, which affected at least three buildings. The fire was fully extinguished by around 5 a.m.