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)