Fire razes biggest market in Palu city

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Hundreds of kiosks in Palu's largest market, Pasar Inpres Manonda, were destroyed on Tuesday night in a fire that caused billions of rupiah in damage. No casualties were reported in the incident.

The fire, which began at about 9 p.m., razed about 1,600 kiosks. Firefighters were hampered in their efforts to contain the blaze at the six-hectare market because one of the two fire engines that arrived at the scene was not working.

Police have yet to officially identify the cause of the fire, but a forensic team said it assumed the blaze was triggered by a short circuit.

Also on Tuesday, a fire severely damaged some 36 houses in Ujuna district, West Palu, forcing homeowners to take refuge in the local subdistrict office.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Aryanto Sutadi toured the scene of the market fire and criticized the Palu city administration for failing to install fire hydrants near the market.

"The Palu city administration was negligent. There should be water hydrants here and more fire engines, but they do not care," he said.

Palu Mayor Suardin Suebo said his administration planned to install more water hydrants around the city and to purchase more fire engines.

"We should have more water hydrants and fire engines. This is our fault and we apologize," Suardin said.