Tambora Fire Victims Remain in Shelters, Appeal for Home Repair Assistance

Although most tenant victims have moved to new accommodations, original homeowners now have no choice but to sleep on mats inside Musala Mahlul Ibadah and Musala Al Hikmah. Kompas.com’s observation at the scene shows the green-walled Musala Mahlul Ibadah filled with dozens of residents, including children, adults, and elderly. They sit and rest on blue folding mats labelled ‘Dinas Sosial Peduli’. Around them, stacks of instant noodle cartons, mineral water, and plastic bags containing remaining belongings litter the room’s corners. Meanwhile, in the alleyways, residents are working together to clear debris and wood to the main road. The remaining fire materials will then be transported by West Jakarta City Government’s PPSU trucks to quickly clear the area and make it habitable again. Santi (44), a resident whose home was completely destroyed, has been sheltering in the mosque since the incident. She said she had no time to save any belongings when the fire raged on Thursday 28 May 2026. ‘There are about 20 people here. My house is completely gone, nothing left. Where else can I stay? I only have the clothes I’m wearing. Nothing else,’ Santi told Kompas.com at the scene on Monday. Amidst the severe constraints, Santi is struggling to think about her family’s future. Her husband, who works in a printing shop on a meagre salary, has been forced to take leave since the fire. Now, even renting temporary accommodation is difficult, let alone rebuilding their home. ‘We have no money left. How can we rebuild our home when everything is gone?’ Santi said. She expressed hope that the government would intervene with renovation assistance programmes for residents whose homes were destroyed by fire.