Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - At least 505 people from 159 families have lost their homes after a massive blaze broke out on Friday predawn at around 2 a.m.local times. The fire could only be fully contained at about 9 a.m.
Even though no loss of lives has reported, but it was the second-worst fire disaster in the Kotabaru District (after the first in Sungai Bali village on September 23, 2019).
The blaze engulfed the neighborhood units (RT) of 8, RT9, RT13, RT15, and RT16 from densely populated Jalan Patmaraga to Jalan Bakti in the Kotabaru Tengah Urban Village, Pulau Laut Sigam Sub-district.
"It is still temporary data. We are still in the process of handling and collecting data in the field while establishing aid posts, health posts, and public kitchen," said Head of Kotabaru Public Order and Fire Mitigation Agency Khairian Anshari.
He said the most important and urgent thing to do was to establish command posts, evacuation tents, and public kitchen to provide food for the victims.
The Kotabaru district government together with all components, including TNI-Polri and volunteers, worked hard to prepare everything needed in the handling of the impact of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the local Muhammadiyah organization with its chairperson Abdul Samad has moved fast by immediately building a public kitchen and distributing food aid to fire victims.
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