Mother, daughter missing in fire

PADANG, South Sumatra: A mother and her daughter are feared dead in the fire that razed their shop-house here on Wednesday.

Firemen and residents were unable to find the bodies of Chandra Ningsih, 42, and Ivoniwati, 20, as of Wednesday afternoon, hours after they put out the fire that began at about 9:30 a.m.

Also destroyed in the fire were a Honda CRV car and a motorcycle, though firemen were able to save two nearby shop- houses.

Padang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sukrawardi Dahlan said the victims were unable to escape because the fire began on the second floor of the building, trapping the pair.

He said that according to a preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by either a cigarette butt or burning incense that fell into a can of paint thinner. (28)