Tambora Residents' Suffering: Forced to Live in the Remains of Their Burnt Houses

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Victims of the fire on Jalan Tanah Sereal 13, RT 011 / RW 009, Kelurahan Tanah Sereal, Kecamatan Tambora, West Jakarta, now face a bitter reality. They have been forced to return to the remains of their burnt houses, which were nearly completely destroyed by the flames, following the closure of the emergency shelter tents. The most heartbreaking conditions are visible in a resident’s house located right next to the factory ruins, one of which belongs to Soleh (65). That three-storey house was almost entirely gutted, leaving only the ground floor measuring 5x3 square metres, which was previously used as a grocery shop. Without doors and a front wall, the interior of the house is fully exposed, with its blackened walls from smoke and beginning to develop mould. In that cramped open space, 11 members of Soleh’s family, including his children and young grandchildren, huddle together to sleep on mats and aid-provided mattresses. “We’ve been back here since the 20th (March) last, from Friday night to Saturday night, it started being moved here, right before Eid,” said Soleh, when met by Kompas.com at the location on Monday (23/3/2026). They moved back to the house exactly on the night of the takbiran preceding Eid, last Friday (20/3/2026). “In the end, like it or not, we had to return to our respective houses, no other place,” he said. The open structure of the house leaves Soleh’s family feeling cold and having to endure mosquitoes at night. In fact, some of his children have to sleep sitting up or on chairs in front of the house.