13-8-2024 (JAKARTA) A catastrophic fire erupted in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 August 2024, engulfing a residential area in Manggarai, South Jakarta, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has reported that seven individuals sustained injuries in the inferno, which has forced the evacuation of more than a thousand families.
Michael Sitanggang, Head of the Data Processing and Information Unit at DKI Jakarta BPBD, confirmed in a written statement that the seven injured victims are currently receiving medical attention from emergency responders. The scale of the disaster became apparent as Sitanggang revealed the extent of the displacement: “Temporary data indicates that 1,050 families from 21 RTs (neighbourhood units) have been affected and evacuated to designated safe locations.”
The impact of the fire has been particularly severe in two administrative units, with 750 families from RW 06 and 300 families from RW 12 bearing the brunt of the disaster. Sitanggang provided a detailed breakdown of the evacuees, stating, “In RW 06, 15 RTs comprising 750 families or 2,888 individuals have been displaced, while in RW 12, 6 RTs with 300 families or 1,331 people have been evacuated.”
To accommodate the large number of displaced residents, authorities have swiftly established three evacuation centres. These include the Infinia Warehouse on Minangkabau Street, Al Falah Mosque in RW 07, and SD 05 Manggarai school in RW 09. As the situation continues to unfold, officials are yet to determine the full extent of the financial losses incurred due to the blaze.
The fire, which began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, is believed to have originated from an unlikely source. Syamsul Huda, Head of the South Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-department, relayed information from local community leader Sukiman, chairman of RT 02 RW 06, suggesting that “the source of the fire was from a mobile phone charger.”
The blaze was first reported at approximately 02:30 local time, primarily affecting a house on Jl Saharjo Raya, spanning across RW 06 and RW 012 in Manggarai Village, Tebet District. The incident’s impact extended beyond the immediate vicinity, causing disruptions to several TransJakarta bus routes, which had to be diverted to ensure public safety.
