Fire leaves 900 people homeless

Fire leaves 900 people homeless

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Fire gutted some 48 old wooden houses near the South Sumatra capital of Palembang, leaving about 900 people homeless.

No casualties were reported in the blaze that started about 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the Kampong Ilir area, about four kilometers from Palembang.

The fire started after a stove exploded in the house of local resident Abdul Kohar, producing an uncontrollable blaze that quickly spread to neighboring wooden houses in the densely- populated area.

The fire was extinguished by Palembang's fire fighting personnel after 3.5 hours.

Kampong Ilir is known as for its old traditional wooden houses. --JP