Ahead Of Eid Al-Fitr Prayer, Dozens Of Stalls In Simpong Market, Central Sulawesi Burned

SULAWESI - Fire again hit Simpong Market in South Luwuk District, Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, Thursday, May 13, ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijri Prayer.

The fire quickly spread and scorched dozens of plots as well as hundreds of the largest traditional markets in the Banggai Regency.

Antara reporting, residents and police officers until the TNI went down directly to help the firefighting conducted by firefighters.

The Head of Banggai District Trade Office revealed that as many as 66 plots and 200 plots open market burned even the Simpong Market UPT Office was also burned.

"The Head office house is also on fire", he said.

He suspects the fire originated from one of the plots in Simpong Market not far from a shophouse. Then it quickly spreads to plots open market and other tiles. "The plot is unlocked, the shophouse is locked", he explained.

Hasrin said the fire started to lick around 4:15 a.m. The fire was extinguished at about 06:20 BST. "There are two firefighting cars. We are also grateful to PMI who deployed 1 car unit", he said.

He said he could not yet ascertain the cause of the fire, which is the police's authority to conduct an investigation.

Hasrin himself when the fire struck, was waiting for Eid prayer at Al-hikmah Mosque, Soho Village, Luwuk District. After praying, Hasrin went straight to the fire site to monitor the situation.

"After prayer, go straight to the market no longer go home," he said.

Since 2017, Simpong Market has been hit three times by fire. The denseness of the location is often an obstacle in firefighting when fires hit. What's more, there are no hydrants in Simpong Market.

Medio March 22, 2017 fire in Simpong Market scorched Arafat building shop, Bank Danamon Simpong Market Unit, Ebony Inn, wooden warehouse, and kiosk.

Then on November 27, 2019, the fire also scorched 7 buildings and several merchant stalls. The incident adds to the record of fires in Simpong Market with 66 plots and 200 plots open market burned.