Three die in tragedy on Independence Day

JAKARTA (JP): Independence Day celebrations in northern Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, turned tragic on Friday when an old two-story house collapsed, causing three people to die instantly and injured 14 others, a number of them seriously.

The deceased, Slamet Jayadi, 6, Heriyanto, 5, and Agus Setiawan, 18, along with the other 14 people injured in the accident were watching Independence Day celebrations in the vicinity when the front wall of the house collapsed at around 10 a.m.

According to eyewitnesses, it was still unclear whether the collapse was caused by a strong gust of wind or by jolting, due to several traditional competitions being held during the celebrations. But they said the house was old and located in a slum area.

Other residents tried to rescue the victims who were pinned under the broken wall and suffered injuries to their heads and bodies.

The deceased were then taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for an autopsy while the injured victims were rushed to the nearby Pertamina hospital.

Residents said they had often warned the house owner, Harno, that his house, which seemed to be fragile, could collapse easily. But he ignored them, Antara reported.

They had suggested that the competitions, such as tug-of-war, and a gunnysack race, should not be held in front of the house. But unfortunately, that was exactly where they were held.

To escape the wrath of neighbors, Harno and his family reportedly moved to their relative's house, whose exact location was not known.

Most of the victims came from poor families and had no money to pay the hospital bills or for autopsies.

Some of the relatives of the 14 injured victims stated that they planned to move the victims from Pertamina hospital to a less expensive one.

But private radio station Jakarta News FM reported that an official of the South Jakarta prosecutor's office paid the bills for the autopsy.

The radio said that Slamet's grandfather, Anshori, dreamed on Thursday night that he was surrounded by cockroaches before the accident occurred.

"On Friday, I found my grandson (Slamet) and nephew (Agus) died," said Anshori, bursting into tears. Slamet was an elementary school student while his uncle, Agus, had just graduated from senior high school. (jun)