Kupang fire guts 15 buildings

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)