Warteg Owner Evacuates Customers During Gandamekar Bekasi Fire

Salamun, 65, owner of a Tegal-style warung (warteg) in Gandamekar, Cikarang Barat, Bekasi Regency, recounted the moments of the fire that engulfed a textile waste warehouse in the densely populated area. He was shocked when flames grew and immediately cleared his customers who were eating at his establishment.

Salamun said the fire erupted from a textile waste warehouse on Sunday (31 May 2026) around 5:30 PM. At the time, shouts of ‘fire’ from neighbours prompted him to swiftly evacuate his customers.

‘I told everyone to leave. If anyone wanted to eat, I said it wasn’t possible for now,’ Salamun said.

After Maghrib prayer time, he noted, the fire intensified. The electricity at his warung was immediately cut off.

He and his children and nephews quickly moved valuable items out of the warung, including cooked food.

He placed the goods and meals on the street in front of his business. ‘I took out everything—refrigerators, cooked dishes,’ Salamun explained.

Salamun described how many residents gathered on the street as fire department personnel moved in and out of the crowded neighbourhood.

Once the fire was under control, Salamun reopened his warung. ‘I opened again at 8 PM, and turned the lights on at 9:30 PM,’ he added.

At 9:15 PM, only a handful of customers were eating at Salamun’s warung, with staff tidying up dishes in the display case.

Earlier, a textile waste warehouse in the densely populated area of Gandamekar, Cikarang Barat, caught fire, burning seven houses.

‘Seven houses were destroyed,’ said Gandamekar’s Binmaspol officer, Aiptu Giri, on Sunday (31 May 2026).

The fire broke out in the afternoon around 4:30 PM. Upon receiving the report, the fire department promptly rushed to the scene.

‘Ten fire trucks were deployed,’ Giri stated.

Giri confirmed there were no casualties.