Jakarta (VNA) – A major fire that broke out on the morning of December 15 devastated Kramat Jati, Jakarta's largest wholesale food market, destroying at least 350 kiosks.
Local authorities said the blaze caused no casualties but severely damaged large areas of the market, which mainly housed vendors selling vegetables, fruit and other fresh produce.
Witnesses said the fire started at a single kiosk but quickly spread due to the presence of flammable materials and strong winds. Within minutes, the flames intensified and spread to upper areas, where many fruit stalls were located.
Firefighters deployed 16 fire engines and took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control.
The Jakarta administration announced it would establish an inter-agency investigation team to determine the cause of the incident. A spokesperson for the Governor’s Office, Chico Hakim, said Kramat Jati Market plays a strategic role in the capital’s food distribution system. Therefore, fire prevention and control must be given the highest priority to avoid major disruptions to the supply chain.
Authorities said investigation is ongoing and no conclusion will be drawn until forensic teams complete their examination./.
