Halim's airport control tower destroyed by fire

Halim's airport control tower destroyed by fire

JAKARTA (JP): A fire damaged a control tower and a base operation building at the Air Force's Halim Perdanakusuma airport in East Jakarta yesterday.

The blaze also destroyed the arrival room for high-ranking Air Force officers.

There has been no official statement in relation to the fire so far. Firemen said the blaze, which started at about 1 p.m., was caused by a gas leak from a stove in the operation building.

Facilities in the airport's three-story tower were reportedly damaged.

The airport is currently used mainly for VIPs and military purposes.

Firemen and sources at the Air Force base said that there were no fatalities.

One reliable source at the airport said that the tower was an old one and its equipment was out of date. A new tower has already been built nearby, the source said.

Thus, "the fire causes no significant problems for Air Force activities here," said the source, who requested anonymity.

Reporters and photographers who wanted to cover the fire were prohibited from entering the fire site by airport officials.

Air Force spokesmen could not be reached yesterday for comment on the fire and the total loss sustained.

Six fire engines from the local brigade and four from the Air Force brought the fire under control within an hour.

"We had no significant problems in putting out the fire," said Rimanto of the East Jakarta fire brigade.

Police said the fire caused panic among airport employees, taxi drivers and people in the vicinity of the airport. (bsr/05)