Three fires hit N. Jakarta in the last three days
Three fires hit N. Jakarta in the last three days
JAKARTA (JP): Fires have hit three places in North Jakarta in
the last three days, leaving hundreds of people homeless. No
fatalities have been reported.
The first fire gutted 200 shanties on Jl. Pegangsaan Dua,
Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Sunday, leaving more than 700
people homeless.
The fire which started at 2:35 p.m. and raged until 5:45 p.m.,
inflicted at least Rp 1 billion in financial losses. Local
authorities blame an electrical short-circuit for the fire.
Almost all the shacks were built of plywood.
Many who lived on the three-hectare plot did not yet know
their houses were destroyed, other residents said, because they
had gone to their hometowns for Idul Fitri.
Others only found out after they had returned from the outings
they went on after the Idul Fitri prayers.
"Our new clothes went up in smoke because we changed after
attending prayers," a woman said.
The ex-residents were eating raw noodles as the supplies of
noodles and rice donated to them were all uncooked.
Most hailed from Madura and owned waste businesses. Many had
just sold their scrap iron and cardboard sheets to dealers so
their cash was also burned. "I had Rp 700,000," a man said. He
was saving to return to Madura.
The second fire burned 110 shacks belonging to 152 families in
three neighborhood units in Sunter Agung subdistrict.
The fire, which left more than 500 people homeless, started at
about 9:00 p.m. and raged through the shanties until the fire
brigade, with 11 fire engines, put it out at about 1:00 a.m.
yesterday.
Losses are still being calculated.
Mrs. Toto Suama, one of the Sunter Agung fire victims, said
her doomsday had come. "My husband and son died sometime ago, and
now my house has burned down. This has all happened in only 200
days," the 50-year-old woman said. "All I have now are the
clothes I am wearing."
The last fire broke out in Bintang Mas, Ancol, yesterday while
North Jakarta Mayor H. Suprawito was visiting the two other fire
sites, Pegangsaan Dua and Sunter Agung, to distribute food to the
fire victims.
Local authorities were still investigating the fire, Antara
reported yesterday.
Meanwhile, a fire destroyed a minivan on Jl. Siaga Raya,
Pejaten Barat, at 12:45 p.m. Sunday. It was caused by a leakage
in the van's gasoline hose. The loss is estimated at Rp 2.5
million.
Later at 11 p.m., Sunday, a fire started on Jl. Palbatu III,
South Jakarta. No casualties were reported although a house, a
foodstall and a kerosene shop were damaged.
At 6 a.m. Monday a fire burned a mattress in a house on Jl.
Swadaya IV, Manggarai Selatan. A neglected match was believed to
be the cause. (04/anr/sur)