Asia07 September, 20262 min read
Indonesia Market Fire Kills 11, Including Six Children, In Central Papua
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Eleven people killed, including six children, in Central Papua market fire. Fire spread to nearby shophouses, destroying about 40 buildings.
Babuda market blaze
A massive fire in Indonesia’s Central Papua province killed 11 people, including six children, after flames spread from a market to surrounding buildings and destroyed around 40 homes and shops. Al Jazeera said the fire spread from the market in the village of Babuda and that six of the dead were children.
CGTN said the fire at an Indonesian market killed 11, citing reports. Xinhua also put the death toll at 11, including six children, citing media.
Fire spread and response
İlke Haber Ajansı reported the blaze broke out at approximately 12:25 a.m. local time in the market area of Bapouda village in East Paniai district and quickly intensified as it spread to tightly packed houses and shops. The same outlet said the fire burned for more than three hours, destroying approximately 40 buildings, and that police deployed a tactical water-spraying vehicle to assist firefighting teams.
Vanguard News said the fire broke out shortly after midnight in Paniai, Central Papua province, and quickly spread to several shophouses. Vanguard News added that the blaze raged for more than three hours, destroying at least 40 kiosks and houses despite the deployment of fire trucks and water cannons.
Investigation and aftermath
Police said authorities discovered 11 victims during an inspection of the burned area, with İlke Haber Ajansı reporting five adults and six children, and local reports saying the children were between 2 and 9 years old.
“The intensity of the blaze and the fact that the houses and stalls were all packed tightly together made the firefighting process take quite a long time.”
İlke Haber Ajansı said all 11 victims were evacuated to Paniai Regional Hospital for further handling and identification, while police launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Vanguard News said authorities were investigating the cause of the fire, and Henry said the tightly packed arrangement of the houses and market stalls made it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze.
NDTV similarly reported that authorities were still investigating the cause of the fire and quoted Henry J. Manurung saying, "The intensity of the blaze and the fact that the houses and stalls were all packed tightly together made the firefighting process take quite a long time."