Fire razes 33 houses in Sampit

Fire razes 33 houses in Sampit

SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan: Thirty-three houses and a mosque in Kuala Kuaya village, Kotawaringin Timur district in Central Kalimantan, caught fire on Wednesday night but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The fire, believed to have originated from a foodstall stove that exploded, spread quickly to nearby wooden houses.

Residents panicked after the blaze caused a blackout.

It was not until 1 a.m. on Thursday that the blaze was extinguished after residents worked hand-in-hand to douse it with water, having to destroy two houses to prevent flames from spreading.

Spokesman of Kotawaringin Timur Police, Adj. Comr. Satake Bayu, estimated the material loss caused by the fire to be Rp 1.47 billion.

Earlier in the day, fire razed at least 42 shophouses in Kereng Pangi market, Katingan district, Central Kalimantan. --Antara