Fire victims get free health service

JAKARTA: Many fire victims -- whose houses in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, were burned down on July 25 -- have suffered from respiration problems such as coughs and flu, according to Liliaty Wijaya, a doctor with the Husada Hospital on Jl. Mangga Besar, Central Jakarta.

The hospital provided free medical services to around 1,000 victims on Wednesday, starting at 9:30 a.m. A total of 35 doctors and 10 nurses were deployed to serve the victims.

The hospital management also handed over 1,000 packets of instant noodles, plus 1,000 notebooks for school children and used clothing for them.

Many of the victims still live in shelters while rebuilding their homes.

Two people were killed in the fire, which, locals believe, was caused by an exploding kerosene stove. It was the third major inferno in July following a fire in Kebon Melati, Central Jakarta, when 1,000 families lost their homes, and another in Pancoran, South Jakarta, where fire destroyed about 20 houses. -- Antara