Nipah Mall Makassar Fire: Chronology, Victims, and Latest Condition

A major fire struck Nipah Mall (Nipah Park), located on Jalan Urip Sumoharjo, Panaikang Village, Panakkukang District, Makassar, on Sunday evening (9/8). The incident, which occurred near closing time at 22:00 WITA, triggered panic among dozens of visitors and employees due to thick smoke billowing from the left side of the building. The Makassar City Fire and Rescue Service (Damkarmat) received the first report at 21:48 WITA from the mall’s security officers. Despite being hampered by heavy traffic along Jalan Urip Sumoharjo due to road closures, the team from the East Post managed to arrive at the location around 22:00 WITA. Thanks to rapid coordination between Damkarmat officers, who deployed 30 units, and the building management, who carried out initial handling using fire extinguishers and hydrants, the fire was brought under control quickly. The blaze was declared extinguished at 22:15 WITA. Head of the Makassar City Damkarmat, Andi Fadly Wellang, confirmed that the fire scorched two main points on different floors. The affected rooms included a storage area on the 3rd floor and a children’s playground on the 4th floor. Although there were no fatalities, two people were reported to have required medical treatment for smoke inhalation. Property General Manager of NIPAH PARK & Office, Aswan Amiruddin, stressed that the safety of visitors and tenants is the top priority. The management immediately carried out a thorough evacuation as soon as the fire was detected. Regarding the exact cause of the fire, the management has fully handed over the investigation process to the police and relevant authorities. Following the incident, the public need not worry about the operational continuity of this shopping centre owned by the Kalla Group. Marketing Communication of Nipah Mall, Ayudia Natsir, confirmed that Nipah Park is operating normally. Officers are still assessing the total material losses, while the affected area is still undergoing cooling to ensure no remaining fire spots.