FIRE RAZES RAMAYANA DEPARTMENT STORE

Jakarta, Apr 2 (ANTARA) - Fire ravaged Ramayana Department Store in the Kebayoran Lama market compound, South Jakarta, on Friday but there was no immediate report on casualties or material damage.

"Fire fighters are working hard to put out the blaze. The cause of the fire is still unknown," spokesman for the South Jakarta Fire Department Sutarno said.

He said 36 fire engines from South Jakarta, Central Jakarta and East Jakarta fire departments were sent to the scene to extinguish the fire which broke out at 07.00 a.m.

Residents and traders in the vicinity of the fire scene panicked as the fire sent a billow of black smoke into the sky.
By 08.45 a.m. the fire still could not be put out.

The department store was still closed when it caught fire.