10 Shophouses In Timika Papua Burnt, Losses Hundreds Of Billions

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JAKARTA - A total of 10 shophouses (Ruko) on Yos Sudarso Street Timika, Papua were burned to the ground on Wednesday, August 25 morning. While two other shophouses can be saved.

The Head of Mimika Police Operations Division, AKP Robert Hitipeuw, was met at the location of the fire, saying that of the 12 shophouses in front of the Serayu Timika Hotel, only two could be saved. As a result of the great fire, the losses were estimated at hundreds of billions.

"The Mimika Police Criminal Investigation Team has investigated the crime scene to find out where the first fire came from. Until now, data collection is still being carried out to find out how much damage has been caused by this fire", said AKP Robert, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 25.

Based on information from residents around the scene, the fire first appeared from the Ummu Baby and Kids Ruko which sells various baby and children's equipment at around 10:00 WIT.

Meanwhile, another source said there was a loud explosion from the shophouse in the middle between Duo Bundo Restaurant, Pante Raja Pharmacy and Ummu Baby and Kids Ruko.

"We saw shop employees running outside because the smoke was getting thicker inside. We don't know exactly where the fire came from, but the information came from the shophouse in the middle after a loud explosion was heard on the second floor," said a resident named Very.

In just about an hour, 10 of the 12 shophouses lining Yos Sudarso Street in front of the Serayu Hotel were completely burnt down.

Two shophouses are remaining, one of which is a Self-Service Lancar Sejati which was saved after the Mimika Regional Disaster Management Agency team assisted by Mimika Baznas Volunteers were dispatched to the location.

To extinguish the fire, the Mimika Regional Disaster Management Agency deployed four units of a fleet of fire engines plus a water canon from the Mimika Police.

"The Mimika Police Rapid Response Team used a water cannon to help extinguish the fire", said AKP Robert.

The massive fire that occurred in the center of Timika City when residents were on their activities triggered a large crowd of residents along Yos Sudarso Street Timika from the Bank Papua intersection to the Old Market intersection.

The police officers, led directly by the Head of the Mimika Baru Sector Police, AKP Dionisius VD Paron Helan, seemed to dissuade the masses from leaving the fire site while asking residents to obey health protocols.