Fire razed 20 buildings

JAKARTA: A fire destroyed at least 20 buildings on Jl. Ophir in Velbak, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, on Monday.

The fire, which began at about 5:15 p.m., is believed to have been caused by a short circuit in one of the destroyed houses. It eventually spread to nearby homes.

Eight fire engines rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire about two hours later.

No fatalities were reported, but about 50 families lost their home.

Last Thursday, about 100 houses in Johar, Central Jakarta, burned down. Earlier in the day, a fire destroyed 17 houses in Luar Batang, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, killing a cleric, his pregnant wife and their 16-month-old daughter. --JP