We panicked when the fire grew bigger very quickly, as we feared it would spread to other buildings.Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA) - A fire swept through a police dormitory in the South Sumatra provincial capital of Palembang on Saturday.
The fire triggered a sense of panic among the local residents, as the dormitory is located in an area, with high population.
Desti, an eyewitness, recollected seeing black smoke emanating from the dormitory at around 11 a.m. local time and fire spreading swiftly thereafter.
"We panic when the fire grew bigger very quickly, as we feared it would spread to the other buildings," she noted.
Strong winds only fueled the blaze. Local residents worked hand-in-hand to extinguish the blaze. When the fire tore through the place, some tenants attempted to salvage their belongings.
A few minutes later, the Palembang City Disaster and Fire Control Office sent eight fire trucks to the scene. The fire could be doused in less than an hour’s time.
A local resident remarked that the fire arose from a house behind the police dormitory.
The cause of the fire is yet unclear.
Chief of the police dormitory 2nd Inspector Kartijon confirmed that 11 semi-permanent homes were destroyed in the fire.
No injuries or fatalities were reported in the blaze. Related news: Fire exhumes Central Java Police's storage of explosives, bombs
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Aziz Munajar/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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