Sleeping When The Fire Engulfed The House, A 69-year-old Grandfather DIEd In A Fire In Palembang

Illustration of firefighters to extinguish the fire. (Pixabay)

SUMSEL - A resident was reported killed in a fire in a densely populated area on Jalan Ratna, Ilir Barat II District, Palembang City, South Sumatra (Sumsel), Sunday 18 December.

West Ilir II Palembang Police Chief Kompol Irene, said the dead victim was Sukardi alias Sukar.

The 69-year-old grandfather died after being trapped in the second-floor room of his house. He fell asleep as the fire devoured his residence.

He said several witnesses said they had heard the victim screaming for help from in his room.

However, firefighters and residents who tried to help experienced difficulties because the fire was getting bigger and scorched the wooden house.

"The victim's body has been evacuated to the Bhayangkara M Hasan Hospital in Palembang for further purposes," he said, quoted from Antara, Sunday, December 18.

Based on information compiled from the police, it is known that this fire occurred on Sunday, December 18 at around 06.15 WIB.

The fire was successfully extinguished at around 07.30 WIB after the Palembang City Fire Department deployed five cars to do watering assisted by local residents.

From the fire, five houses in a densely populated area of Jalan Ratna, most of which are semi-permanent.

Due to this incident, at least eight heads of families lost their homes and were forced to flee to their relatives' homes.

The police said that the results of the investigation of the fire scene were allegedly caused by a short circuit in the electrical installation at one of the affected residents' houses.

The police also carried out sterilization around the burning location by installing a dividing line and prohibiting anyone with no interest from entering it.