Jakarta. A fire that swept through a densely populated neighborhood near Jiung Market in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Monday night affected hundreds of residents and damaged hundreds of buildings, leaving many families homeless.

Authorities deployed 35 fire trucks and 175 firefighters to contain the blaze, which was brought under control after approximately seven hours.

Deputy Governor Rano Karno said around 95 percent of fire incidents in Jakarta are caused by electrical short circuits, although authorities are still investigating the cause of the Kemayoran fire.

“Based on the preliminary assessment, the fire affected nearly 304 buildings, 354 households, and a total of 679 residents,” Rano told reporters at the site on Tuesday.

The affected residents include 326 men and 353 women, among them 35 elderly people, 90 toddlers, 53 elementary school students, six junior high school students, 22 vocational high school students, and 414 adults, including several pregnant women.

Rano said the Jakarta administration had established an emergency response post at Yusuf Hamka Field, equipped with temporary shelters, health services, a public kitchen, and psychological support services for children.

The Jakarta Social Affairs Agency has also distributed emergency aid, including food, mattresses, clothing, and other essential supplies.

One of the victims, Wartini, a 40-year-old homemaker, said the fire broke out at around 9 p.m. while she was having dinner with her family.

“At that time, we were eating when we suddenly saw smoke. I immediately started shouting,” she said.

Wartini managed to save several important documents and some clothing before fleeing. She and her family escaped unharmed, and no fatalities were reported.

Another victim, Hapil, a 60-year-old street vendor from Pemalang, Central Java, who has lived and worked in the area for three decades, said he was selling his wares when the fire spread.

“My child told me that a rented house had caught fire. I didn’t have time to save anything at all. These are still the same clothes I was wearing last night,” Hapil told The Jakarta Globe.

He said the fire destroyed his television, clothes, and other belongings, leaving him with virtually nothing. 

“I hope something like this never happens again,” he said.

Another resident, Isti, 40, said she did not know what caused the fire. She realized something was wrong only after thick gray smoke began filling the area. She managed to save a few pieces of clothing before evacuating as the flames rapidly spread through the neighborhood.

Rano said the city administration had offered to relocate victims to public housing apartments, known locally as rusun. However, many residents declined the offer, citing their long-standing ties to the community where they have lived for years.

He added that the Jakarta government is also preparing budgetary assistance to help affected residents recover from their losses.

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