Four people die in fire accident

Four people die in fire accident

JAKARTA (JP): Two men, a mother and her infant child died in a
fire yesterday in Taman Sari, West Jakarta.

The mother, the infant and one of the men burned to death in
the fire which hit a four-story shophouse, containing a garment
factory.

The other man died when he impaled himself trying to escape
the fire.

All the adults worked at the factory.

City Police spokesman Maj. Nyoman Suriasta said Dayon, 21,
Sumiatun, 24, and her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Arif, died in
the fire which started at 2 a.m. yesterday morning.

"Kurnaen Slamet who jumped from the fourth floor landed on a
sharp fence," Nyoman said.

He said several other men suffered burns, including the
factory's owner, Hartono, and Sumiatun's husband, Suritno.

He said police estimated losses from the fire at Rp 200
million (US$84,210) including two burned cars on Jl. Kebun Jeruk.

"The fire was probably caused by a short circuit," Nyoman
said.

He said the garment factory employed at least 16 workers who
were sleeping in the shophouse at the time of the fire.

Sumario, an officer from the West Jakarta Fire Brigade, said
10 trucks extinguished the fire at 3:30 a.m.

He said the firefighters found Sumiatun hugging her child on
the stairs near the third floor.

Suritno said he saw an electricity box explode on the third
floor.

"I went to the first floor to switch off the central
installation. But when I went upstairs I saw the fire becoming
bigger and bigger and it had destroyed the third floor," he said.

Suritno is being treated at Husada Hospital, West Jakarta.
Alex is being treated at Atmajaya Hospital, North Jakarta.

Deputy Governor R.S. Museno said he was deeply concerned about
the fire.

"The victims will receive donations from the city social
welfare office," Museno, who is in charge of city public affairs,
said yesterday. (jun/ste)