Thousands homeless in Jayapura fire

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Fire razed hundreds of houses in the Jayapura capital of Irian Jaya on Wednesday, leaving thousands of people belonging to some 985 families homeless.

A 53-year-old woman named Nurhayati suffered burns in the incident which took place around 10:15 a.m. local time.

Losses could reach billions of rupiah in the incident which was said to be the biggest fire that ever took place in Jayapura.

Fire brigades were unable to put out the fire immediately as panic-stricken residents swarmed the street leading to the site of the fire at community neighborhoods (RTs) III, IV and VIII in the densely populated Bhayangkara subdistrict in downtown Jayapura.

The source of water was also far, about a kilometer away, obstructing efforts to extinguish the fire.

The blaze was eventually put out around noon on Tuesday, or about three hours after a gas stove exploded in one of the residents' houses which was believed to have caused the fire.

Witnesses said the fire came out from a rented house belonging to a local named Bondan.

"I heard a kid say that the rice (cooking on the stove) was burning and soon after that the stove exploded and the blaze quickly spread to other houses," a 26-year-old witness named Tilman said, adding that a strong wind also contributed to the raging fire.

Almost all belongings were destroyed in the blaze and some residents only managed to save their documents and cash.

The victims of the fire sheltered at Cendrawasih Sports Center which is about 1.5 kilometers away from the site of the incident, pending further aid and renovation. (35/edt)