Massive Fire Engulfs Sungai Duri Market, Pontianak-Singkawang Route Paralysed

A fire swept through Sungai Duri Market in Sungai Duri Village, Sungai Raya District, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan. More than 30 shophouses were reported affected by the massive blaze.

The fire broke out on Thursday evening (20/8/2026). Flames were first spotted at around 6 p.m. local time in a commercial area located in the middle of a densely populated settlement. The site of the fire was not far from the Sungai Duri Police Station.

Strong winds and wooden building materials worsened the spread of the flames. Local resident Suci said the fire not only burned a row of shophouses on one side of the road but had also crossed to buildings on the other side.

"The fire has crossed over to the shophouses across the road," she said.

The situation around the market was tense. Thick black smoke billowed high into the sky while the flames continued to move from one building to another.

Hundreds of personnel and dozens of fire engines were deployed to extinguish the blaze. Officers focused not only on putting out the flames but also on creating firebreaks to prevent the fire from spreading to residential areas around the market.

The fire paralysed the main Pontianak-Singkawang transport route. The national road passing through the Sungai Duri Market area was closed for the safety of road users and to provide space for fire engines.

The closure caused severe traffic congestion in both directions, bringing access between Pontianak and Singkawang to a complete standstill.