Massive Fire in Tallo, Makassar, Destroys 56 Houses

A massive fire struck a densely populated residential area in the Tallo District, Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Friday (31/7) at approximately 01:26 WITA, resulting in the destruction of 56 houses. A total of 30 units from the Makassar Fire Department were deployed to extinguish the flames.

“The houses destroyed are those located along the seaside; we hope that logistical assistance will be provided as soon as possible,” said the local neighbourhood head (RW), Farida, on Friday.

The rapidly spreading flames, combined with strong winds, caused the fire to jump quickly between closely situated residential buildings. “The burnt structures were mostly stilt houses, along with several kiosks and small shops,” she added.

According as the Tallo Police Chief, Commissioner Asfada, the fire occurred across two adjacent neighbourhoods (RT). “The fire affected RT 04, with 2-1 houses, and RT 05, with 35 houses. A total of 56 houses were impacted,” Asfada told CNNIndonesia.com.

The blaze triggered widespread panic among residents, who scrambled to save salvageable belongings and worked together to combat the flames using makeshift tools. Asfada noted that 307 individuals were affected and forced to evacuate to safer locations.

“The affected residents in RT 04 consist of approximately 26 families or 105 people, while RT 05 includes 52 families or 202 people. In total, 79 families or 307 people are impacted,” he stated.

At this stage, the police have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire. “Regarding the cause, the INAFIS team from the Makassar City Police is currently processing the crime scene. There were no fatalities or injuries reported,” he revealed.

Separately, the Head of the Makassar Fire Department, Fadli Wellang, stated that his department immediately deployed dozens of vehicles and personnel upon receiving the report. “Upon receiving the report, we immediately dispatched 30 units with a strength of approximately 80 personnel,” Fadli told CNNIndonesia.com.

Fadli explained that the firefighting process took a considerable amount of time because the houses were predominantly made of wood, causing the fire to grow and spread rapidly. “The challenges we faced included limited road access to the location and the density of the crowd. Additionally, strong winds hindered our efforts. The fire was successfully extinguished at approximately 04:39 WITA,” he explained.