IPB student hall goes up in smoke

BOGOR: Fire destroyed the Graha Widya Wisuda (GWW) student hall of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) on the Darmaga campus at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, an hour after it was used to receive new students who were accepted without having to take a test.

No casualties were reported as the building was vacant, according to security guards. Firefighters from three fire trucks from the institute and Bogor administration had yet to extinguish the fire as of late evening.

Witnesses claimed the fire was caused by a short circuit.

"I don't know where the graduation ceremony will be held, as it was set to be held in the hall on June 30," Jeffry, a student, was quoted by Antara as saying. --JP