Fire razes 250 houses

PEKANBARU, Riau: Fire razed around 250 houses in Bagan Siapi- api, a town on the eastern coast of Sumatra, on Friday. There were no casualties.

The fire also gutted schools, mosques and markets in the area, Fahmi Amrie, the chief of the district, told the Antara news agency.

Bagan Siapi-api is a fishing town and not equipped with fire fighting facilities.

The villagers had to put the fire out by themselves. (emb)