Fire ravages shopping center

Fire ravages shopping center

BOGOR (JP): The town's most prestigious shopping center was razed to the ground early on Thursday morning in a blaze that took more than 12 hours to put out.

Personnel from the 10 fire trucks deployed to the scene at the four-story Internusa were hampered by a strong wind that prevented them from extinguishing the flames until mid-afternoon.

Police believe the fire, which started at 1:30 a.m., was caused an electrical short circuit in a new souvenir shop.

Traffic on nearby roads was practically brought to a standstill yesterday, eye witnesses say.

No fatalities were reported, but the police estimate the fire inflicted Rp 10 billion (US$4.5 million) in financial losses.

The 10-year-old Internusa is on Jl. Raya Pajajaran, Bogor, 60 kms south of Jakarta. (sur/yns)