Allegedly Electric Shortage, 2 Houses Burned In Lorok Pakjo Palembang

The remnants of a burnt house in the densely populated residential area of Lorok Pakjo, Palembang, South Sumatra, Friday, August 5. (ANTARA-M Riezko B)

PALEMBANG - A large fire destroyed two houses in a densely populated residential area on Jalan Natuna, Lorok Pakjo Village, Palembang, South Sumatra (South Sumatra), Friday, August 5.

From that location, the fire and black smoke could be seen soaring about two meters into the air, on Friday afternoon at around 13.40 WIB. Local residents were shocked.

At least eight fire engines were deployed to extinguish the fire in the two concrete and semi-permanent houses with the help of local residents.

Pos Merdeka firefighters along with three other regional units were quite difficult to carry out their duties, because the road access was narrow and other buildings were blocked from reaching the burning house.

The fire point is about 300 meters from the Bank Mandiri Regional Office building, the land office and the South Sumatra Provincial DPRD Office, so officers must move quickly so that the fire does not spread.

"Access is narrow and difficult to reach, but with the help of local residents, the fire was successfully extinguished at around 15:00 WIB," said a firefighter, Febri at the location, quoted from Antara.

Victim M. Haris (50) admitted that knowing his house was on fire after Friday prayers at the mosque near his house, the fire spread very quickly because it was from the back of his house.

"At that time the area around the house was quiet but fortunately my family who was at home immediately rushed to save themselves," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Ilir Barat 1 Palembang Police, Kompol Roy Tambunan, at the location said that the house that was on fire was inhabited by two heads of families.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical short. According to him, this refers to the testimony of witnesses and the examination at the location of the fire where the fire came from the back room of the victim's house which was made of wood.

He confirmed that no one was injured in the fire. "There were no casualties in the incident, the residents of the house have been evacuated," he said.