Hundreds Affected by Tambora Fire

Hundreds of residents have been affected by a major fire that swept through a densely populated area in Tambora, West Jakarta. They are now staying at evacuation centres after their homes and belongings were destroyed.

The fire broke out at 19:47 WIB on Thursday, 28 May, and was extinguished by 23:32 WIB after 21 fire department vehicles were deployed.

Head of Operations for Jakarta West Sub-District Disaster Management Agency (Gulkarmat), Syaiful Kahfi, stated that 27 residential houses were destroyed, affecting 115 households.

The burnt homes were in four RTs within RW 5: RT 10 (5 houses), RT 11 (4 houses), RT 12 (10 houses), and RT 13 (8 houses).

“The number of households and people affected is 115 households and 250 people,” Kahfi said on Friday, 29 May 2026.

At the scene on Friday, 29 May at 08:30 WIB, flames were no longer visible, but smoke and the smell of burning persisted.

Most of the burnt houses’ roofs had collapsed, with household items reduced to unrecognisable debris at the site.

Some residents have been relocated to evacuation centres, including Al Hikmah Musalla on Krendang Barat I Road, while others are clearing debris.

One of them is Dadang, 48, a Krendang resident and bakso vendor. He recounted his experience when the fire began.

“I was inside my rented room resting after returning from work when neighbours shouted ‘fire’. I went outside to see the flames had grown large. So, rather than trying to save others, I focused on saving myself,” Dadang said at the scene on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Dadang managed to save only his food cart during the incident, leaving his stock behind.

“Only my bakso cart was saved for now,” he said.

He estimated his losses at Rp4 million, including cooking equipment and materials used for his business.

“Materials like plates, stoves, all trading equipment, and clothes — around Rp3 to Rp4 million,” he said.

Dadang hopes for assistance from relevant authorities, stating affected residents need clothes and food.

“Yes, personally, I hope for clothes and other aid for the community affected by the fire,” he added.

Another resident, Sujay, 42, recounted rescuing his elderly parents as flames consumed their home. He said his parents were unwell, prompting him to prioritise their safety.

“I was home after work when the fire had already spread. It was huge and close, so I first saved my parents. They’re unwell,” Sujay said at the scene on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Sujay explained his parents could not walk, forcing him to carry them to safety.

“They’re unwell, unable to walk. They had dialysis yesterday, Wednesday, and have another session tomorrow,” he said.

“I carried them first, then walked a bit further,” he added.

Besides his family, Sujay also managed to evacuate his motorbike, but heard explosions during the process.

“When I was evacuating the motorbike after my mother was out, there was an explosion — like gas. The fire grew massive,” he said.

Thankfully, Sujay’s motorbike survived, though it was almost engulfed.

“Thank goodness, the bike is safe. It was just a few metres away — maybe five metres,” he said.