REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Fire has burnt more than 500 kiosks in a historical market in Jakarta, Pasar Senen. The incident was happened on Thursday, early in the morning. 

Central Jakarta Police Chief Commissioner of Police Dwiyono said there has no report of injuries or fatalities in the incident. "From the interim report, 500 stalls were burnt. Indeed there are difficulties in bonnet because the fire creeps to the top," said Dwiyono while inspecting the site of fire on Thursday morning (19/1).

Closed door, flamable materials, and lack of water supply hampered the effort to extinguish the fire. (Republika/Prayogi)

He said, until 08.00 am, officers from the Fire Department and Disaster Mitigation in Central Jakarta were still trying to extinguish the fire in block III, which facing to the east, and partially blocks I and II. The worst fire was located in Block III which facing to the south. The third floor in block III was completely used up. 

They added the fire trucks from 27 units up to 56 units because the fire was difficult to extinguish. However, the fire in block III, which facing to the south, has been extinguished and in the process of cooling. Meanwhile, the flamable materials and lack of water supply hampered the effort to smother the fire.

The Central Jakarta Police also deployed 400 personnel to manage the traffic at the intersection of Pasar Senen and secured the location of fires. The intersection of the arterial and Transjakarta lane towards towards Pasar Senen Station, as well as to the Gambir Station, were closed. "For now on, the situation is conducive and has been assisted by the personnel," he said. 

The police and the fire department officers have not been able to deduce the value of damages and the casualties. The police are still waiting for the fire to entirely extinguished to do an investigation. 

Start from first floor

The officer on duty from the Fire Department and Disaster Management of Central Jakarta, Syarifudin, said the blaze began with a fire arose from the first floor on Thursday morning. It was spread and creep to several floors above, up to the third floor. "The fire was initially seen on the first floor, and then enlarged. The most affected are now on the third floor," he said.

Aerial view of Pasar Senen, Central Jakarta. (Republika/Prayogi)

According to him, since 4:15 am, officers struggled to extinguish the fire. The gate of the first floor was still locked tight, so it was difficult for the officers to enter the building. As a result, officers can only put out the fire from the outside.

The officers tried to anticipate the spread of fire, but it was unsuccessful. The fire was spread, so the fire department added the car trucks from 27 to 56 units. They were owned by the Central Jakarta Sub-dept, and the support units from North Jakarta, West Jakarta, and East Jakarta.

The location of burnt in block III Pasar Senen was right facing a flyover towards Matraman, Central Jakarta. The fire caused black smoke soaring. It was even visible from the area of Tugu Tani, which is about 800 meters away from the scene.

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