Several Buildings Destroyed by Fire in Kalideres

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Several market stalls and houses on Jalan Peta Selatan, RT 011/RW 01, Kalideres sub-district, Kalideres district, West Jakarta, were destroyed by fire on Sunday (11 October) night.

“The fire affected four stalls, including one furniture stall, four houses and an online parcel distributor,” Syaiful Kahfi, head of operations at the West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-agency, said when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.

Syaiful said the fire was first reported by a resident, Wildan, at 11.13pm Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

“The person who reported it was asleep but woke up because the electricity had gone out. He happened to see that the roof of a house was already on fire, and that the flames had spread to a parcel warehouse and the surrounding area,” he said.

The resident contacted West Jakarta fire and rescue officers for help as the fire spread further.

A total of 19 fire engines carrying 95 personnel were deployed to tackle the blaze. The operation was difficult because the fire spread rapidly.

“Firefighting began at 11.19pm and was completed at 4.40am,” Syaiful said.

The fire left 11 families, comprising 48 people, without homes. The victims are currently staying in temporary shelters.

Syaiful suspects the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. “An electrical phenomenon,” he said.