Hundreds Flee As Fire Razes Wisma Antara

JAKARTA (Bernama) - Hundreds of office workers at Wisma Antara in
Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta fled after thick smoke enveloped the
building Monday afternoon.

A fireman and building management officer said the fire started at level
11 before spreading to level 10 and 12 of the 20 storey building.

Firemen managed to control and extinguish the fire within 45 minutes.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause and losses incurred in the
blaze. Early information obtained said the fire started from the pantry at level
11.

Smoke was detected at 4.40pm local time and rapidly spread to the whole
building including the office of Bernama Indonesia bureau.

On seeing smoke, the office workers ran in panic and escaped using the
emergency staircase while some rushed out to remove their cars from the carpark.

Other thaan being headquarters of Indonesian news agency Antara, the
building is home to telecommunications company Indosat, news agencies Reuters
and Bernama.

International news editorial advisor Muaya said the fire was the first since
the building was built 30 years ago.

The senior editor regretted that the fire alarm system had failed leaving
office workers unaware of the fire.