Workers died in Tasikmalaya fire

Workers died in Tasikmalaya fire

TASIKMALAYA, West Java: Two workers were killed trying to
salvage their employer's property when a four-story department
store burnt down in the Tasikmalaya township on Monday night.

The outlet of the Matahari department store chain and four
cinemas in the Asoka Plaza were razed by the fire, which began at
about 10:30 p.m.

Witnesses said the fire, which was finally put out at
approximately 5 a.m. the next morning, might have originated in
the building's basement, where a power generator was located. The
fire might have then spread to the cloth and garments sections on
the third and fourth floors.

The victims, Iyan, 40, and Eman, 51, were employees of the
adjacent Empire cinema. Witnesses said they had been trying to
save film rolls and the film projector from the fire when they
died.

The West Java daily Pikiran Rakyat reported that Deputy Regent
Oman Rusman admitted that Tasikmalaya lacks adequate fire-
fighting equipment. Material losses are estimated at Rp 16
billion. (anr)