Fires leave hundreds homeless

BANDUNG: Fire broke out simultaneously in the districts of Lengkong and Cidadas here yesterday morning, destroying more than 40 houses and leaving hundreds homeless, Antara reported.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the fires which were concentrated in the densely populated subdistricts of Malabar and Cidurian.

Five fire brigades were deployed to put out the fires, but dozens of the houses were gutted. They were mostly made of easily burned materials.

"Most of us were still asleep when the fire broke out, but hysterical screams to save ourselves and as many our belongings as possible, woke us," Nana Kuswara, a community chief in Malabar, was quoted as saying. (aan)