Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) -
A fire gutted 55 homes in a densely populated area of Jayapura, the provincial capital of Papua, on Thursday afternoon, leaving about 500 people displaced.



The displaced residents are being sheltered in several places, including a mosque, the meeting hall of the Bhayangkara village head's office, and the yard of an elementary school building, chief of the Jayapura Social Affairs Office, Irawadi, said.



The office has distributed fast food among the fire victims and will set up a public kitchen on Friday, he informed.



Chief of the North Jayapura City Police, Hendry Bawiling, said the fire burnt through 55 homes located in APO Kali, Bhayangkara village, on Thursday afternoon.



The fire is believed to have started after a gas cylinder placed close to a lit kerosene stove leaked.



The fire which broke out around 12.00 WIT (East Indonesia Standard Time) was put out at 16.00 WIT.



No fatalities were reported in the fire, he said.



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Translator: Evarukdijati/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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