Fire razes homes of 400

JAKARTA: At least 440 residents from Petamburan subdistrict, Central Jakarta, lost their homes to a fire that hit the densely populated area at about 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

No reports on fatalities were available, said Petamburan police officer Chief Sgt. Ngatiyono, but the police were still investigating the cause of the fire and the losses incurred.

Residents said the fire was caused by a kerosene stove exploding in a house rented by someone named Endang.

As many as 24 fire trucks and support vehicles from Central Jakarta, East Jakarta and West Jakarta fire stations managed to put out the fire an hour later.

The residents took shelter at nearby state elementary school SD Petamburan. -- Antara