Nightspots lack fire prevention

JAKARTA (JP): A study has revealed that 64 nightspots in the city lack fire prevention equipment.

The 64 establishments, mostly discotheques and bars, are spread across the city and standing on 160 to 8,000 square meter plots of land. Some incorporate restaurants, nightclubs, massage parlors, billiard and karaoke facilities.

The city has more than 3,223 nightspots, according to the public order office.

Fire prevention and management is regulated under city rule No. 3/1992. However, the report from the fire department did not detail all requirements outlined in the rule.

It focused mainly on extinguishers, alarms, emergency lights and exit lighting, which almost all the nightspots were recommended to install.

Fourteen were found to lack both emergency and exit lighting.

Almost half -- or 31 establishments -- lack emergency stairs, including the four-story "Top 10" bar, discotheque and karaoke hall on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta.

The largest site -- the Zodiak in Glodok Plaza -- was reported to have 54 extinguishers for its bar, discotheque, restaurant and nightclub. The nightspot can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

The management was advised to move extinguishers to more visible positions. (anr)