Five kontrakan in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, on fire; no fatalities

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department (Sudin Gulkarmat) has confirmed that there were no fatalities in a fire at a kontrakan building in Cempedak, Jatinegara, on Wednesday (20 May 2026).

‘There were no fatalities; for the affected residents there are around five households (heads of families), totalling 28 people,’ said Edi Purwoko, the on-duty officer of Sudin Gulkarmat Jakarta Timur, at the scene on Wednesday.

He explained that five kontrakan buildings were affected by the blaze. The buildings comprise commercial premises and residences.

He added that ten fire engines and 50 personnel were deployed to extinguish the fire.

He assured there were no difficulties reported by the responders in extinguishing the blaze.

‘We are close to a water source. Behind us there is a canal, so we can use it for firefighting. We conducted firefighting, and about an hour later we were finished,’ he said.

Earlier reports indicated that a printing kiosk in Cipinang Cempedak sub-district, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, caught fire on Wednesday afternoon.

As of 6:00 p.m. WIB, flames were still burning and several Gulkarmat officers were continuing to battle the blaze.

Several wooden buildings collapsed, narrowly missing responders.

In addition, there were several explosions heard, believed to have originated from cables or gas cylinders burning.

Witness Daniel (20) explained that the fire is believed to have started at the printing kiosk and quickly spread to nearby buildings.

‘So I was initially taking a friend to a workshop. When I arrived here, someone from the printing shop shouted, ’Fire, fire!’’ Daniel said at the scene on Wednesday.

Daniel said he observed an apparent electrical short circuit in the burning building, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.