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)