Fire razes houses in Manggarai

JAKARTA (JP): Seven shanty houses on Jl. Manggarai Utara in Manggarai, South Jakarta, were destroyed by fire Friday night. Residents said Saturday they hoped the authorities would let them rebuild their homes.

Udin said that he and other residents were waiting for the Manggarai district office to tell them whether they would be allowed to rebuild their houses.

"Although most of us didn't have building permits, we hope the government will let us rebuild our homes," he said.

The fire started at about 8 p.m. and destroyed the houses on the Manggarai river bank, leaving dozens of people homeless.

Four fire trucks had taken an hour to extinguish the fire, said fire fighter Iskak Saleh.

The 11 affected families salvaged few possessions in the fire which began when a kerosene stove exploded in one of the houses.

A similar accident destroyed at least 127 shanty houses on Jl. Pelita in Jati Pulo, Palmerah, West Jakarta, last Saturday.

Mayor Sutardjianto let the victims of that fire rebuild their houses because the area was unsuitable for a cheap apartment block that had been planned by the mayoralty. (jun)