Sawah Besar fire leaves 600 families homeless

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 600 families were left homeless when fire razed their homes in a slum area in Karang Anyar subdistrict, Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, on Sunday at around 9:30 a.m.

A total of 26 fire trucks were deployed, but firefighters only managed to extinguish the blaze shortly after 3 p.m.

Jakarta Fire Department spokesman Tubagus Suryatna said the fire brigade could not draw water from the nearest river as it had dried up.

But, locals had a different story. "Most of the homes were gutted as the firemen worked really slowly," said Community Unit (RW) 2 deputy head Junaedi, adding that one fire truck had been attacked by angry locals as a result.

He said the fire was believed to have been caused by an exploding kerosene stove in a food stall.

Antara said that no fatalities had been reported, while financial losses were still being estimated. However, SCTV television reported that a resident had died in the fire, but did not give the victim's name.

This was the third major inferno this month following a fire in Kebon Melati, Central Jakarta, on July 14 when 1,000 families lost their homes, and another in Pancoran, South Jakarta, where fire destroyed around 20 houses on July 22.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Karang Anyer fire victims were sheltering in makeshift tents along Jl. Sawah Besar and a nearby mosque. The Jakarta Social Affairs Agency and the Indonesian Red Cross have started distributing aid to them.

"I lost my house. My younger brother and my parents lost their homes too," said Dayat, a fire victim.

Karang Anyar subdistrict chief Fauzi said his officials planned to open posts where members of the public could donate aid. "We will also open a soup kitchen in an abandoned warehouse to provide meals for the fire victims."

The victims were also in dire need of medicines and school requisites for the children.

This was the first major fire in Karang Anyar since 1987.