Rp 40b goes up in smoke

JAKARTA (JP): The city has recorded 198 cases of fire causing an estimated Rp 40.8 billion (US$5 million) in material losses over the less than four months of this year, according to an official.

Johnny Pangaribuan, of the city's fire department, said Wednesday that three people had been killed and nine others injured, while 104 houses, 40 public buildings, 21 industrial structures and 15 vehicles had been destroyed.

Pangaribuan, who chairs the department's section overseeing public participation in fire prevention efforts, said West Jakarta topped the list with 48 cases of fire. South Jakarta had 45 cases, North Jakarta 40, East Jakarta 35 and Central Jakarta 30.

Electrical short circuits and stove explosions were the reasons behind most cases, starting 110 fires and 22 fires respectively, according to Pangaribuan.

Discarded lit cigarette butts had caused 17 fires, he said as reported by Antara. (pan)