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A Fire Jakarta’s largest wholesale food market was vandalized on Monday, destroying hundreds of stalls and forcing the governor to order an investigation.
The fire, which broke out just after 7.30 am local time at Kramat Jati market, prompted fresh scrutiny of safety standards. Indonesian The capital after a series of deadly fires.
The fire reportedly started at a kiosk selling plastic items and ropes, before quickly spreading to neighboring shops due to strong winds and the presence of flammable materials.
Kramat Jati is Jakarta’s main wholesale center for fruits and vegetables and serves as the national price reference point, meaning disruptions to supply chains outside the capital could occur.
The Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency said it took about an hour for 19 fire engines and 80 firefighters to bring the fire under control.
There were no reports of deaths or injuries, but market operator Pasar Jaya said about 350 stalls were damaged, according to Asia News.
The Jakarta Disaster Management Agency said preliminary findings pointed to an electrical short circuit as the possible cause.
After Governor Pramono Anung ordered an investigation into the fire, city officials said a team involving multiple government agencies would be formed to establish the cause and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
Chicco Hakim, a special staffer at the Jakarta governor’s office, said the city would provide immediate assistance to affected traders.
“In the meantime, we will provide temporary assistance, including relocating affected vendors and distributing emergency supplies,” Mr Hakim said. He said the authorities are committed to restoring activity in the market as soon as possible.
The Kramat Jati fire was the third major fire in the Indonesian capital in more than a week.
A fire broke out in a commercial building in Kemayoran 22 people killed on 9 December. The same day, another fire broke out in West Jakarta, destroying several buildings and displacing families.
Earlier this year, a fire destroyed more than 550 shops in the Taman Puring market in South Jakarta.
Recent fire incidents have again raised concerns about fire safety in Jakarta. A city inspection last year found that nearly 700 of more than 2,600 buildings inspected did not meet fire safety standards, including hundreds of high-rise buildings.