Deadly Indonesian Market Fire
Devastating Market Fire in Indonesia Kills Eleven People Including Six Children
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Police said five of the 11 victims were adults, while the other six were children aged between two and nine.
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The fire was brought under control at about 3:30 a.m. after police deployed a water-cannon vehicle alongside firefighters.
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Authorities are investigating the cause by collecting witness statements and examining the scene.
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The incident adds to a recent pattern of deadly fires and industrial accidents in Indonesia: a December blaze at a seven-storey Central Jakarta office building killed 22 people, while a 2023 explosion at a nickel-processing plant killed at least 12.
A fire that broke out shortly after midnight in a market in Paniai, Central Papua province, killed 11 people, including six children aged 2 to 9, Indonesian Police said. The blaze spread rapidly through tightly packed market stalls and homes, destroying at least 40 buildings before firefighters brought it under control after more than three hours.
Authorities said all victims suffered fatal burn injuries. Police cited the dense arrangement of buildings and the fire's intensity as major obstacles to firefighting efforts. A water-cannon vehicle was deployed alongside firefighters and brought the blaze under control around 3:30 a.m., Suriname Times reported.
Rapid Spread Through Closely Packed Stalls
The fire ignited shortly after midnight on Monday in the Paniai market. It moved quickly from stall to stall because shophouses and homes were built very close together. Newsposl noted that the tight arrangement made it extremely difficult for firefighters to reach burning areas and prevent the flames from jumping to nearby structures.
Five adults and six children died in the blaze. The children ranged in age from 2 to 9 years old, according to Views Bangladesh. All 11 victims suffered fatal burn injuries as the fire consumed wooden structures and personal belongings within minutes.
Investigation Underway Into Fire's Origin
Police are collecting witness statements and examining the burned scene to determine what started the fire. English News.cn reported that authorities have not yet announced the cause. Early investigations focused on how the fire spread so quickly through the densely packed market area.
The incident marks another deadly fire in Indonesia this year. In December, a blaze at a seven-story office building in Central Jakarta killed 22 people. A 2023 explosion at a nickel-processing plant claimed at least 12 lives. Global Times noted the pattern of industrial and structural fire incidents across the country.
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