TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pasar Besar Malang went up in flames at 4 a.m. Thursday, May 26. The fire believed to have originated from one of the store located inside Pasar Besar (large market).
“Many of commodities could not be saved,” said Joko Suripno, a resident of Kidul Dalem. Merchants panicked, worried that their stores would also lit up. Merchants attempted to save their merchandises by police and firefighters restrainted them. They are prohibited to save their merchandises before the fire could be tamed to prevent casualties. The fire continues to spread to other stores.
A total of eight fire trucks were deployed to the scene. Firefighters try to tame the fire by hosing it.
“Firefighters arrived ten minutes after the fire started,” said Joko. All accesses toward Pasar Besar Malang had been closed. Resident are prohibited to approach in order to ease the extinguishing process. However, curious residents keep approaching the scene.
Firefighter have yet tame the fire. Several hydrants in Pasar Besar was not working, making it difficult for firefighters to put out the fire.
EKO WIDIANTO