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