REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SAMPIT -- A fire ravaged tens of houses in Sampit, capital of East Kotawaringin district in Central Kalimantan province, on Saturday afternoon, leaving hundreds of people displaced, a spokesman said on Sunday.
"According to provisional data, the fire which occurred on Saturday (Nov 301) has destroyed 57 houses, not to mention shop-houses, food stalls and rented houses," said Sanggol Lumban Gaol, acting chief of the East Kotawaringin district disaster mitigation board (BPBD).
The fire inflicted more than Rp15 billion in losses, he said adding that the number of fire victims might increase.
The local authorities had put up a number of tents, along with public kitchens to help the fire victims, he said.
Some volunteers also had set up a number of command posts to distribute relief aid, including foodstuffs and mineral water among the fire victims, he said.
"We predict the number of fire victims will increase as we are still recording fire victims," he said.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
By Sunday police officers still studied the debris of a food stall believed to be the source of fire.
"When the fire broke out I had closed my food stall. About 30 minutes after I arrived at my house I was shocked to hear that the fire came from my food stall," Marpuah, the owner of the food stall, said.
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