Fire rips through Manggarai Utara

Fire rips through Manggarai Utara

JAKARTA: A fire gutted at least 100 houses in the densely
populated Manggarai Utara in South Jakarta, early on Wednesday.

There were no fatalities in the fire, but it left at least
600 people homeless.

Witnesses said the fire began in a vacant house that was being
renovated by the owners.

Neighborhood unit chief Syaefuddin said a number of residents
saw a local man enter the vacant house carrying a candle. The
fire began at about 4:30 a.m. and soon spread to nearby homes.

Firefighters were deployed to the scene and the fire was
extinguished by about 9 a.m.

Residents who lost their homes in the blaze are sheltering at
nearby state elementary school No. 1 Cibono, while police are
questioning residents about the cause of the fire. -- JP