Three killed in shop-house fire

JAKARTA (JP): A two-story shop-house on Jl. Sadar, Cipinang Muara in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, was gutted by fire Wednesday, killing three of the employees, according to an East Jakarta fire department officer.

Yoyon Ardisoma, the head of the fire department, said the victims, who are thought to have died after being trapped in the flames, were identified as Awaluddin, 32; Habib, 18 and Suharno, 25.

The fire, which started at about 4 a.m., was apparently caused by an electrical short circuit on the first floor of the building which did not have any proper fire exit.

Twelve fire engines were sent to the scene and the blaze was extinguished by about 5:15 a.m.

"We could not do much as when we arrived the fire had already spread up to the second floor. The fire was probably reported to us a bit late," Yoyon said.

Police detained the owner of the shop-house, Abdul Ali, 52, for questioning.

The three badly burned bodies were sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for postmortem examinations.

Another fire gutted a four-story shop-house owned by Hendro Wijaya, 42, on Jl. Kapuk Raya in North Jakarta Tuesday.

An electrical short circuit is also believed to have caused this fire. Fourteen fire engines were deployed to put out the blaze which started at 8:45 p.m. No fatalities were reported. (edt/ivy)