Kupang fire guts 15 buildings

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Fire razed 15 shops and restaurants in Oesao traditional market in south Kupang on Monday, Antara reported.

The fire began just after midnight in a shop known to have been vacated by its owner for two weeks, Chris Ndoki, the chief of Oesao village said.

The fire quickly spread to other buildings

All the shops were owned by migrants, prompting Chris to speculate on foul play. He ruled out the possibility of an electrical short circuit as the cause of the fire.

Kupang regent Paul Lawa Rihi, while not ruling out foul play, dismissed speculation that the fire was closely related to the sectarian riot which rocked Kupang on Nov. 30. (01)