Power company headquarters catches fire

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The headquarters of state electricity company PLN in South Jakarta caught fire early on Friday, with material losses estimated to reach Rp 4 billion (US$400,000).

Eyewitnesses said the fire, which broke out at around 6:20 a.m., came from the third floor. No fatalities nor injuries were reported in the incident.

"A team from the National Police Forensics Laboratory is investigating the cause of the fire," said South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Ghufron.

He said police detectives would also question several officers as witnesses in the incident.

According to him, the preliminary investigation at the scene had led the police to believe the fire started in a auditorium on the third floor where a TVRI program that featured the PLN's 60th anniversary concert was recorded the night before.

The first floor houses a shopping arcade while the second, meeting rooms.

The fire destroyed much of the third floor and some parts of the second floor.

Eyewitnesses said the fire started on the third floor at 6:20 a.m.

"I was doing my morning exercises when the fire was seen on the third floor," said an eyewitness.

At least 40 fire engines were deployed to the scene and by 9:30 a.m. the worst was over.

Police cordoned off the complex, preventing employees from entering.

"There will be no office activity today. However, other PLN offices will remain open. The fire at PLN headquarters won't directly affect our service," PLN's spokesman Ario Subijoko said.

PLN president director Eddie Widiono said that no data was lost in the fire.

"The losses we suffer are limited to the building and some appliances," he said.