Teenager died in fire

JAKARTA: A 14-year-old boy died in a fire that gutted his house in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta on Monday evening.

Police said on Tuesday the boy, Amarullah, died when a fire started in his room after a candle fell on to his mattress.

Sa'anah, 70, Amarullah's grandmother said she had lit the candle and put it above the cupboard because of a power cut that night. But Amarullah had taken the candle and played with it until the mattress caught alight

Both Sa'anah and Amarullah father, Madinah, 53, did not realize the fire was burning until it was too late to save the boy's life. The fire then destroyed the entire house.

Five fire trucks arrived at the scene to put out the fire.

The family told the police Amarullah was mentally handicapped and probably he did not realize the dangers of playing with the candle. -- JP