9 Houses And 2 Cars Burnt In Aceh Tamiang

Aceh Tamiang firefighters tried to extinguish the fire in Kuala Simpang, Aceh Tamiang, Monday (22/5/2023). (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Aceh Tamiang)

BANDA ACEH - Nine permanent and semi-permanent housing units and two Innova cars were burned to the ground in the Kedai Bawah Shop area, Kuala Simpang City, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Monday morning.

Head of Aceh BPBD Tamiang Iman Suhery said the fire disaster occurred at around 00.37 WIB. The fire came from one of the residents' houses, then spread to the roof of the house and grabbed another building.

"The number of houses burned down by nine units, mostly under the construction of wood. In addition, two private cars of the Toyota Innova type were also burned inside the house," said Iman Suhery as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

BPBD Aceh Tamiang deployed five units of fire fighting fleets (Damkar) from five posts and was assisted by two units of the fire department owned by PT Pertamina EP Rantau, in an effort to extinguish fires in urban areas.

The fire was successfully extinguished at around 02.30 WIB, but the condition of the building was flattened to the ground. Officers also continued to cool down until the fire coal was completely extinguished at 04.30 WIB.

The fire incident of nine cooperating housing units also affected a number of other housing units next to it.

He said there were no casualties in the incident. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the authorities, and it is also unknown where the source of the fire came from. Likewise with material losses that are still not known with certainty.

"However, all the property of the victim's nine heads of families could not be saved. Material losses are still being collected," he said.

The village head of Kuala Simpang City, Zulkifli, said the number of victims who lost their homes in the fire was nine heads of families (KK) covering 21 people, as well as 13 people in five families whose houses were affected by small impacts. Currently, some of the victims fled to the homes of close relatives and refugee tents.

"We ask the Social Service and BPBD to distribute basic needs such as basic necessities and set up tents to accommodate our residents who do not have a place to stay tonight. If there are tents, it is possible that we will build a public kitchen," said Zulkifli.