Heartbreak for Kemayoran Fire Victims: Savings Lost, Only Clothes Left on Bodies

When interviewed in the Pasar Jiung area of Kemayauan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (2/6/2026), Lilis recounted how the flames spread so rapidly that she had no time to rescue any valuables from her home.

“There was a fire, people were shouting ‘fire’. I live upstairs near the plants, so I rushed down immediately. Residents were already trying to douse the flames; my husband and I joined in,” Lilis said.

That night, residents attempted to extinguish the blaze using water from their individual household reservoirs. However, the fire intensified. “We used water from the taps. We poured bucket after bucket, but it only grew larger. There were so many cables and electric poles involved. It happened incredibly fast,” she explained.

Lilis’s house was situated directly adjacent to the fire’s point of origin. The semi-permanent structures made of plywood allowed the flames to spread rapidly to neighbouring homes.

“I wasn’t thinking about my own belongings. As the fire grew, I ran outside. I managed to grab my prayer veil and prayer mat and throw them downstairs before fleeing,” she recounted.

Lilis stated that she only managed to save one important document from the house, which has now been burnt to the ground. “My ID card and wallet were all destroyed. I only managed to save my family card and marriage certificate,” she said.

Beyond documents, her business capital and savings kept at home were also consumed by the fire. This money was intended for daily living expenses and to fund her child’s upcoming graduation ceremony. “The savings were significant enough to serve as daily capital. In two weeks, we were planning to return to our hometown because my child is graduating in Solo,” she added.

Lilis earns a living selling traditional herbal medicine (jamu) around Central Jakarta. All of her trading equipment was destroyed in the blaze. She admitted she currently has no idea how to restart her business. “Everything is burnt. Only my trading bicycle survived because a neighbour helped me. I want to rise again and sell again once I have the means to buy new equipment,” she said.

Following the fire, Lilis and her husband, who works as an online motorcycle taxi driver, were forced to seek refuge at a relative’s house in the Serdang area. She expressed hope that the government would provide aid to victims who have lost both their homes and their livelihoods.

“We are desperately hoping for government assistance. We have lost everything and have no capital left. We only have the clothes on our bodies,” she said. “I hope the aid is released soon, because we are truly left with nothing.”