Mila Refiana, a resident of Donorejo, expressed her wish for stability, as the unrest had affected her family, who live nearby.
"Hopefully, the situation in Surabaya will soon return to normal. The riots have disrupted the teaching and learning process in schools, and the economy is also affected. Last night, vendors halted sales due to the unrest," she said while standing in front of the Grahadi State Building on Sunday.
Ngudiarto, a street vendor, also called for peaceful demonstrations. He emphasized that protests should not disturb the community or damage public facilities.
"I think demonstrations can be conducted peacefully. They should not lead to riots, cause panic, or force people to stay at home, which would impact our sales," he said.
The fire, started by an unknown group on Saturday evening, August 30, into the early morning, left behind rubble that many residents observed.
Members of the East Java Scout organization urged the public not to stop on the roadside, to prevent disruptions to traffic.
Using loudspeakers, they advised motorcyclists, including those who had stopped in front of Grahadi State Building, to keep moving.
Additionally, some street vendors temporarily stopped on the roadside to sell goods to residents who had parked along the street.
Related news: TNI top brass expresses concern over Surabaya's Grahadi building fire
Translator: Indra Setiawan/Naufal Ammar Imaduddin, Katriana
Editor: Primayanti
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