Fire razes shops in Central Bandung

JAKARTA (JP): An explosion and ensuing fire which gutted six shops and kiosks on the busy Jl. Asia-Afrika in Bandung on early Wednesday shocked residents.

"I heard the explosion when I was having my pre-dawn meal at a food stall some 50 meters from the site of the fire," Antara quoted Barjo, a witness, as saying.

Another witness, Jono, said he also heard the explosion and saw the silhouettes of three people leaving the location of the fire.

The chief of the Central Bandung District Police, Lt. Col. Hertian Yunus, said the cause of the explosion had not yet been identified.

"We cannot say what caused the explosion; whether it was from fireworks, a bomb or a Molotov cocktail," he said, adding he was asking the National Police's Forensics Laboratory for assistance.

He could not, however, confirm reports that three people were seen leaving the site after the explosion.

No fatalities were reported in the fire which caused material losses estimated in hundreds of million of rupiah.

Six fire engines arrived on the scene 30 minutes after the explosion and put out the fire five hours later. (imn)