Fire leaves over 2,000 people homeless

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

A man died and two were injured when a massive fire swept through a fishing village in Cambaya subdistrict, Ujung Tanah district in Makassar on Monday, razing at least 491 houses and leaving over 2,000 people homeless.

The fire, which started at 1:30 a.m., killed Sattu, 36, who was reportedly electrocuted while trying to escape the fire, while the other two, 46-year-old Nasir and his 35-year-old wife Sarmia, suffered serious back injuries and were still being treated at Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital.

According to data from the Makassar Fire Agency, the fire, which broke out near Paotere harbor, was the Fifty-fifth such incident in the city this year, but the largest in the last two years in all of South Sulawesi province.

Information gathered at the location seemed to reveal that it was started in a house owned by a resident identified as Marlina, where Nasir and Sarmia also lived. The definite cause of the fire was not yet known and Marlina was still listed as missing, but the fire could have been ignited by a mosquito coil accident, according to the agency.

Chief of the Ujung Tanah police, Adj. Comr. Abire, said the police and forensics lab were still investigating the fire.

"We're still trying to find the cause of the fire while trying to locate Marlina and/or get information from the injured victims," he said.

The fire, which took place when most residents were in bed, left little of value in its wake. Only the charred remains and foundations of their houses were left.

On Monday, a group of residents were still searching for valuables, while others could only cry.

Most residents confessed they had no time to save their belongings because strong winds from the nearby sea fanned the fast-moving fire. The warren of tiny alleyways in the village made accessibility nearly impossible for the 30 fire trucks that eventually arrived. They finally extinguished the blaze two hours later.

"The fire quickly spread to the houses. When I woke up fire had engulfed my house so I immediately fled to safety with my family," said Daeng Tojeng, a victim who was only left with the shirt he was sleeping in.

With their houses gone, some fire victims set up makeshift tents among the remains of their houses, while others began setting up camp on boats moored in the harbor.

Makassar city's Social Affairs Office and the Indonesian Red Cross have also set up an emergency post and public kitchen to assist some 2,820 victims of the fire.