Batam, Riau Islands, (ANTARA News) - A fire razed at least 20 homes in a densely populated area in Sekupang sub-district, Batam city, Riau Islands province, on Friday morning.

The fire began from a house selling used clothes and shoes at around 06.00 a.m. local time and then spread quickly to nearby homes, an eyewitness, Firdaus said.

Firdaus said he was selling breakfast foods near the house when the fire broke out. A moment later he heard his child shouting that his house also caught fire.

He and his wife immediately rescued their children who were still inside the house.

"All of my items have been burned down but the clothing I am wearing," he said.

Chief of the Sekupang police precinct Commissioner Oji Fharoji said the police were still looking into the cause of the fire.

"We are still investigating the cause of the fire. But based on information we have received from a number of witnesses, the source of the fire came from one of the houses. Since the houses were situated in a densely-populated area the fire quickly spread to other houses," he said.

He predicted the fire inflicted tens of millions of rupiahs in material losses.

No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Reporting by Jannatun Naim
Editing by Suharto, Bustanudin

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
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