People Mental Disorders In Palembang Burn Their Homes When Their Mother Is In The Room

A great fire on Jalan DI Panjaitan, Seberang Ulu II, Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA)

A total of two housing units on Jalan DI Panjaitan, Seberang Ulu II, Palembang, South Sumatra, were scorched to almost flattened to the ground, at around 11.00 WIB, Thursday 22 June. It is known that the fire was deliberately assisted by the owner of the house who had a mental disorder. Monitoring at the location of the incident was seen the flames engulfed the two residents' houses to a height of about two meters into the air and about 10 fire engines were deployed to extinguish the fire. Pos Seberang Ulu I and II firefighters assisted by local residents were quite difficult to carry out their duties because the road access to the location was narrow and the distance between the residents' houses was narrowed together. The process of extinguishing the flames lasted until 13.00 WIB and did not spread to many other residents' houses. Head of Seberang Sector II Palembang Police Kompol Bayu Sakti at the scene said the fire incident allegedly started from a semi-permanent house belonging to a resident with the initials AL (35) and then spread to a house behind him. As long as the blackout process, the police had to secure the Navy because the person concerned was suspected of being the cause of the house fire. "We brought the Navy to the office for further investigation. He (AL) was handed over by residents for allegedly experiencing mental disorders and burned the house while his mother was in the room alone," he said.

Bayu ensured that there were no casualties in the fire incident, but at least three families lost their homes. For this reason, he said, the police are currently coordinating with the Palembang City Government through Seberang Ulu II District to carry out post-fire countermeasures.