Fire Hits Densely Populated Area On Jalan Ogan Palembang

SUMSEL - A fire hit a densely populated residential area in Jalan Ogan, Bukit Lama Village, Ilir Barat I District, Palembang City, South Sumatra Province (Sumsel), Thursday, June 23.

According to Police Chief Ilir Barat I Police Commissioner Roy Tambunan, the fire caused damage to the house belonging to a resident named Tari (25), an employee of a private company in Palembang.

"Fortunately, there were no casualties in the 15x10 meter house fire this morning at around 03.35 WIB," he said.

He said that a neighbor of the victim heard an explosion from the kitchen and ironing room at the victim's house when the fire broke out.

"When the person concerned (the witness) came out of his room he saw that the fire had spread from the kitchen," he said.

Neighbors who saw the fire then immediately woke the owner of the house.

The victim's family reported the fire incident to the caretaker of the neighborhood unit, who then contacted the fire brigade.

Local residents worked together to extinguish the fire using makeshift equipment before the fire station dispatched officers and three fire engines to the scene.

At around 05.00 WIB, the fire that covered the residents' houses in the Jalan Ogan area was successfully extinguished. Police are still investigating the cause of the fire.

"Residents who are not interested are prohibited from entering the area around the crime scene to avoid being crushed by the rubble of a house that has been attached to a police cord," said Roy.