Gas pipe leak causes fire

JAKARTA (JP): A fire caused by a leaking gas pipe opposite the GKBI building under Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, caused heavy traffic jams around the Semanggi junction yesterday as people slowed to watch.

A employee of the state-owned Gas Company, Herman Usman, told The Jakarta Post his office had temporarily sealed the central gas pipe in the area to ensure the gas did not flare up.

"We hope we can resume the service by tomorrow (today). We still have to contact related parties, including the City Administration, to arrange for an examination in this area," Herman said.

He said the gas pipe served many offices on and around Jl. Sudirman.

He said the incident had caused financial losses but declined to give an exact figure. "Customers regularly paid Rp 370 (12 US cents) for a cubic meter of gas," was all he said.

Police Sgt. Ruwono said the incident started at around 11 a.m. and lasted for about three hours: "The fire was up to 50 centimeters high. It has burned bushes about ten meters away."

Ruwono said two fire crews were deployed to put out the blaze, which was extinguished after the gas company stopped gas flowing through the pipe. (cst)