Kiosks, homes catch fire

JAKARTA: Fire gutted seven kiosks near the Rawasari traditional market in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.

No one was hurt in the incident, which took place sometime after midnight.

A witness said the fire began after a small explosion inside a kiosk selling herbal medicines.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze at 1 a.m.

Another fire destroyed several houses in the densely populated Jembatan Lima area in Tambora, West Jakarta, early on Sunday.

The area's narrow streets meant the 20 fire trucks sent to put out the fire found it difficult to approach the scene. Firefighters eventually extinguished the flames at 6 a.m.

There were no injuries in the blaze and police said they were still calculating the financial losses incurred in both incidents. --JP