Fire losses cost billions

Fire losses cost billions

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: A government official said on
Sunday that a devastating fire at a Balikpapan school for
disabled students had caused losses of billions of rupiah.

The fire burned buildings, books, documents and teaching
materials, including a Braille printing machine, said local
education office head Hernawati.

Saturday's fire razed the school, but no fatalities were
reported in the incident. The school is located just 200 meters
from Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan.

The school is the only elementary school for the disabled in
Balikpapan, and was built in 1983. More than 1,500 disabled
children have passed through its doors and more than 800 students
have graduated. The school's student body comprises children of
various disabilities, such as blindness, muteness, mental
disabilities and paralysis.

The school has 119 students for this academic year. -- JP