Investigate Cause Of Fire At National Museum, Management Deploys Investigation Team

Firefighters at National Museum/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The management of the Indonesian National Museum immediately deployed an internal investigation team related to the fire that occurred at the museum complex on Saturday night, September 16.

"Once the fire is extinguished, we will immediately deploy an internal investigation team to carry out the exact cause of the fire and collect data on the collections both affected and those that have been secured," said an official statement from the National Museum received, Sunday, September 17.

The National Museum stated that the fire broke out at 20.08 WIB behind Building A.

The National Museum even emphasizes that their current priority is to protect valuable artifacts and historical objects in the museum.

"We will cooperate with the authorities to ensure that the investigation runs transparently," the statement said.

Previously, the Central Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service (Sudin Gulkarmat) stated that 52 officers were deployed to extinguish the fire at the National Museum complex.

Head of the Gulkarmat Sub-dept. Asril Rizal said the fire was thought to have originated from an electrical short circuit that occurred in the museum renovation project.

"The electrical short behind the museum exhibition is thought to have come from the co-worker area who is carrying out the repair of the Block C building," Asril said when confirmed in Jakarta, Saturday.

Based on reports of the Central Jakarta Gulkarmat Sub-dept. fire, the chronology of the fire began when security officers were carrying out an apple.

Not long after at around 19.58 WIB, there was a fairly large explosion from the direction of the project together who were working on renovations at the National Museum. The building alarm sounded and when viewed, the fire had grown.

The fire was declared extinguished at 22.00 WIB and the officers continued the cooling process.