Fire turns mall into ashes

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Fire razed Hulu Sungai Selatan's business center and nearby residential areas last week, causing a loss of about Rp 7.5 billion ($3.2 million).

"The figure is a rough estimate. The cause of the fire is still under investigation," Hulu Sungai Selatan regent Syaidul Hudari told Antara yesterday.

He said a school was among the public facilities destroyed in the fire that occurred at the stroke of midnight on Oct. 15. Fire fighters were unable to extinguish the blaze due to lack of water.

The fire destroyed 526 shops, 89 houses and a bank, while more than 450 people were left homeless, he added.(pan)