Karet Tengsin fire leaves 1,500 people homeless

JAKARTA (JP): Fire destroyed more than 300 slum houses in Karet Tengsin subdistrict, Tanah Abang, in Central Jakarta yesterday, leaving 1,500 people homeless.

The fire, believed to have started in a house rented by a ketupat sayur food vendor, spread to other houses because of strong winds.

Central Jakarta fire brigade chief Fredy Aling said a kerosene stove explosion at the house caused the fire in the seven neighborhoods of RW 05 on Jl. Karet Pasar Baru Barat.

A police line was placed in front of the house which belonged to Djupri, residents said.

Firefighter Marjuki from the Central Jakarta Fire Brigade suffered head wounds from falling roof tiles.

The fire started at 11:15 a.m. and was extinguished by 2:30 p.m., Fredy said. Sixteen trucks were deployed.

Yesterday's incident reminded people of a fire which ravaged 125 slum houses on Nov. 30 last year in the same district.

Losses yesterday were estimated at hundreds of millions of rupiah and residents hoped they could rebuild their homes.

Residents, mostly vendors and blue-collar workers, cried when watching firefighters and other residents fight the blaze, including youths wearing T-shirts and hats with the United Development Party (PPP) symbol.

A senior high school student was among those who fainted upon seeing her house razed by the fire.

Others tried to salvage their clothes, kitchen equipment, furniture and other belongings. They took refuge at a nearby mosque and the local military office.

Police, led by Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim, directed traffic from Jl. Bendungan Hilir to Jl. Pejompongan.

Residents said fire trucks arrived late and some hoses were leaking.

Fredy said access was difficult for the engines, and 300 meters of hose were used, taking water from the Kali Krukut river in front of the fire.

Residents said a private developer had recently offered to buy their land for Rp 600,000 (US$250) per meter square. But residents had demanded Rp 1.5 million per square meter.

Central Jakarta Mayoralty official, Soegiarso, said he had no knowledge of any private project in the area.

Among the victims was Sudaryo, an official of the city public order office.

"Sudaryo phoned the office telling us his house was destroyed by the fire. He was still in shock," his colleague Ujang Sumanta said.

Sudaryo, 44, lived with his wife and four children.

Sunarti, a mung bean vendor and a mother of nine, said her husband, a construction laborer, was working at the time of the fire. She had lived there since 1976. (jun/ste/01/pwn)