18 Buildings In Manokwari Market Burnt Down, Police Intervene To Conduct Investigation

The rubble of the kiosk building and residents' houses in the Wosi Market complex, Manokwari Regency, West Papua, was sold out on fire, Tuesday. (ANTARA)

ManOKWARI - Manokwari City Police (Polresta), West Papua conducted an investigation to determine the cause of the fire that scorched 18 buildings in the Wosi Manokwari Market complex. Head of Operations Section of the Manokwari Police, Kompol Musa Eagle Permana, said that the police investigators together with the Forensic Laboratory Team from the Papua Police, while carrying out the investigation of the crime scene (TKP). "The initial assumption of an electrical short circuit but we need to be investigated again," Musa explained as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 6. From the statements of a number of witnesses, he said, the fire started from one restaurant which then spread to another. The initial data collection results contained eight kiosks and ten houses of local residents that were burned down. "The fire occurred on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at around 00.30 WIT," said Musa. He estimated that the loss due to the fire reached Rp20 billion, but still waiting for the entire data process to be completed. "The estimated initial loss of Rp20 billion, but this is not final, yes. We are still all data," said Musa Badminya Permana. Head of Satpol Pamong Praja Manokwari Yusuf Kayukkatui, said that firefighters who were deployed to the location experienced difficulties because residents packed the location, and water supply vehicles were still minimal. He said that officers finally managed to extinguish the fire so as not to spread to other buildings around the location. "Warga at all locations, why officers were rather overwhelmed," he said. Eric, one resident said that the fire came from a food stall located in the middle of a merchant stall and a resident's house. Api then spread to the surrounding building, some residents tried to extinguish the fire but it was unsuccessful. Erik explained that some traders who owned the burning kiosk did not live in the location of the fire, as a result, the merchandise was not saved.

"Many are just trading here, so the kiosks are empty. Residents are trying to extinguish it, but the fire continues to grow," said Erik. Residents suspect the fire was triggered by an explosion of a gas stove, even though residents handed it over to the police to investigate the incident.