Left Alone At Home, Children With Special Needs Burned

Illustration of fire location/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - A woman with the initials A (22) who has mental retardation was found dead in a fire in her house, which is located on Jalan Citra V, Blok D5, Kamal, Kalideres, West Jakarta, Monday, April 4.

The incident occurred when a husband and wife (couple) who owned the house were away for treatment. Meanwhile, A (victim) was left alone in the house.

Head of West Jakarta Sub-dept. Gulkarmat Sub-dept., Sjukri Bahanan, said the fire occurred at around 02.32 WIB.

"The victim was sleeping at the time. The victim had mental retardation. He died on the spot," Sjukri told reporters, Monday, April 4.

He explained that when the incident occurred, the victim who was sleeping was left by his parents.

"The owner of the house, husband and wife are receiving treatment and their children are left behind. When neighbors see the fire has grown, they immediately report to the fire department," he said.

As a result of the incident, as many as three houses were burned down. At least 11 firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.

"The cause is suspected to be due to an electrical short in one of the houses. The object that burned was an area of 264 M2 with a loss of 500 million," he said.

Meanwhile, the Kalideres Police Chief, AKP Syafri Wasdar, said that it was suspected that the cause of the fire was due to a short circuit in the kitchen.

"Because a witness said that he saw the fire from the kitchen," said the police chief.

When found the victim was in his room.

"The victim's body was found in the room. So we suspect that, with his retardation, he fled to the room when he saw the fire," he said.

The victim's father at the time of the incident was accompanying the victim's mother who was being treated at the hospital.

"The victim's mother is being treated at the hospital because of heart disease. Meanwhile, the father is taking care of his mother," he said.