Fire in Indonesia's Papua kills 11, including 6 children: police

A fire in Indonesia's easternmost Papua region has claimed the lives of 11 people, including six children, according to police. The blaze started in the town of Paniai in Central Papua province shortly after midnight on Monday and rapidly spread to several shophouses. Henry J. Manurung, a local police spokesman, confirmed that 11 victims were found with severe burn injuries, five adults and six children aged between two and nine years old.

The fire raged for over three hours and destroyed at least 40 kiosks and houses, despite the use of fire trucks and water cannons. The intense blaze and the close proximity of the buildings complicated the firefighting efforts. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Indonesia is no stranger to deadly fires. In December, a fire in a seven-story office building in Central Jakarta killed 22 people, with a drone battery explosion likely the cause.

In 2023, an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia resulted in at least 12 fatalities.