Tangled Utility Cables in Kalideres Drape Over Roofs, Residents Fear House Fires

The chaotic tangle of utility cables has become a daily sight along Jalan Tanjung Pura in Kalideres, West Jakarta. The cables not only dangle low towards the road but also have their coils left leaning against residents’ rooftops. This condition leaves local residents living in the shadow of fear over fire hazards. One of them, Suwatri (56), a resident whose home roof is covered with piles of tangled cables, said: “I’m afraid that if there’s a short circuit or it gets struck by lightning, my house will be the first to burn, since it’s right on top.” Suwatri also worries that the area is a route for large loaded trucks from factories in Kalideres. The tangled cables and narrow roads often result in the cables getting caught on passing trucks, an incident that frequently occurs in Kalideres. Moreover, at night, Suwatri says her home building often shakes when trucks pass by at high speed. “This area is full of trucks; there are sugar factories, machinery, and lots of plastic ones as far as I know. It’s happened many times; just yesterday the cable broke, luckily no fire came out,” she said. “Usually at the bend, like last night the cables were tangled there too; when it met another vehicle, it swerved, and it turned out the cable got caught because it’s hanging very low,” said Hendra. Hendra regrets the slow handling by the authorities and utility owners regarding these cables. However, he says, anyone passing through Jalan Tanjung Pura can directly see the tangled utility cables. “It feels like this area is never attended to; it’s been like this for years, only the ones in front near the Citra complex have been tidied up, bundled together,” said Hendra.