15 Semi-permanent Houses in Kampung Bandan Burned

April 08 2014 11:28 AM 2707
Reported by Budhi Firmansyah Surapati | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata

Fire destroyed 15 semi-permanent houses on the bank of railway tracks in Kampung Bandan, RW 05, Ancol Urban Village, Pademangan Sub-District, North Jakarta, or precisely behind ITC Mangga Dua shopping complex, at around 10 AM, Monday (4/7). The fire quickly enlarged because the burned houses were made of triplex and wood. Fortunately, there is no casualty in this incident which caused loss reaching Rp 100 million.

The cause of fire is allegedly electricity short-circuit in one of residents’ houses

Head of Pademangan Sub-District Section for North Jakarta Fire and Disaster Handling Sub-Department, Ridwan, said that his party received report about the fire at around 10.15 AM. Afterwards, 15 fire trucks were immediately deployed to the scene.

“Firefighters were having difficulties in putting out the fire because of narrow access and easily-burned building materials. The fire was finally extinguished two hours after it broke out. The cause of fire is allegedly electricity short-circuit in one of residents’ houses,” he stated.

Indeed, besides narrow access, the firemen also had to pass ITC Mangga Dua’s fence as high as three meters and also pass through a swamp as far as 30 meters before reaching the railway tracks’ bank. Meanwhile, the fire trucks cannot reach the scene and had to be parked behind the fence.

“I was bathing my kid when I heard screams of fire which made me panic. Then, I saved my kid and instantly got out of the house. All of my valuables were burned in the fire,” expressed Sofiatun (35), one of fire victims.