Blaze guts Jakarta neighbourhood as firefighters scramble to prevent spread

Massive Fire Erupts in Central Jakarta

A massive fire tore through a densely populated area in central Jakarta overnight Monday, with emergency services scrambling to contain the blaze.

Footage shows the inferno engulfing Jiung Kemayoran Market in Jakarta, with thick smoke and flames spreading rapidly throughout the structures. Emergency services are seen working to extinguish the blaze.

Residents Describe Rapid Spread

“The fire started small. When I went outside, the flames were already burning and had grown bigger,” explained resident Siti Komariyah.

Komariyah added that the fire spread so quickly that it did not give her time to take anything with her.

“I just evacuated. Everything burned down. The rented houses are all gone,” she added.

Firefighters Battle Overnight Blaze

Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency confirmed on Tuesday that its firefighters and rescue workers had rushed to the semi-permanent residential housing in the Kemayoran district of Central Jakarta.

The operation to extinguish the blaze began at 21:05 (local time) on Monday and was contained by 04:15 Tuesday morning, it added. At least 35 units and 175 personnel took part in the operation.

Hundreds Displaced After Destruction

Hundreds of residents are reported to have been displaced as a result of the fire, losing their homes and belongings. Several people sustained injuries and were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals for treatment.

At the time of publication, authorities had not released an official statement regarding fatalities caused by the massive fire. However, firefighters and emergency personnel remain at the scene for cooling operations and to assess the extent of the damage.