Four children killed in fire

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Four children from one family were killed here early on Saturday when a fire gutted their house on Jl. Jamin Ginting, a report said.

The siblings, aged between nine and 16, were apparently asleep when the fire began at about 2 a.m., Antara reported.

Their mother, Aritha Gurusinga, woke up and attempted to save her children, identified as Rudho, Wahyudi, Rianda and M. Handiko. She suffered severe burns.

An preliminary investigation by local police revealed that electric short circuit had caused the fire. (byg)