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)