Fires damage shopping malls

Fires damage shopping malls

BANDUNG: Separate fires occurred in two shopping malls here on
Thursday and Friday, causing hundreds of million of rupiah in
damages.

No fatalities were reported in the incidents.

Friday's blaze gutted six kiosks owned by garment businessman
Erwin on the third floor of Pasar Baru Mall on Jl. Oto Iskandar
Dinata at about 7:45 a.m. on Friday.

Nine fire engines managed to put out the fire a couple of
hours later.

Another fire gutted the third and fourth floors of Parahyangan
Plaza on Jl. Dalem Kaum at around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

"The fire originated in the Amigo restaurant on the third
story and quickly spread to the fourth floor," said Akhyar, 28,
an eyewitness.

The head of Bandung Fire Department, Tumpal Sirait said that
the two buildings had inferior fire safety systems and lacked
fire extinguishers. "We will recommend that Bandung Mayor Aa
Tarmana suspend the operation of the Parahyangan Plaza for
lacking standard fire safety equipment."

Two security guards were being questioned by Bandung Police in
relation to the fire at Parahyangan Plaza. (25/edt)