"We are still collecting data on the number of fire victims," Jayapura District Social Office Head Ronny Deda stated when contacted from Jayapura.
Deda said a team had visited Pharaa Market to meet the fire victims to collect their data in order to facilitate smooth and on-target distribution of assistance.
The Jayapura Social Office is also coordinating with the Jayapura Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) to build evacuation tents near Pharaa Market.
"Because most traders have relatives in Sentani City, we only set up evacuation tents," he stated.
Earlier, Acting District Head of Jayapura Triwarno Purnomo urged the victims to be patient about the incident while adding that the police were investigating the cause of the fire.
"We also request that there should be no construction in Pharaa Market while waiting for the investigation process to be completed," Purnomo remarked during a visit to the location on Friday (January 6).
The acting district head noted that his side had readied a place at the Jayapura District Head's Office to secure goods belonging to traders impacted by the fire incident.
In addition, the acting district head appealed to people in the region to remain cautious over the current extreme weather conditions, such as frequent rains and strong winds.
Pharaa Market, Sentani, Jayapura District, got engulfed in fire on Friday (January 6, 2023) at around 4 p.m. local time (UTC+09 hours), thereby scorching 436 stalls and 15 shophouses.
Meanwhile, Jayapura Police Chief Fredrickus Maclariomboen affirmed that after the data collection of fire victims was completed by the Social Office, his side would immediately investigate the fire scene.
Maclariomboen remarked that the fire did not cause any casualties or injuries, but the amount of material losses was still being calculated.
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Translator: Ardiles L, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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