Daijiworld Media Network - Jakarta
Jakarta, Dec 29: Indonesian police have begun the process of identifying 16 people who lost their lives in a fire that swept through a nursing home in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, authorities said on Monday.
According to Alamsyah P. Hasibuan, head of public relations for the North Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sulut), the victims’ bodies are being examined at Bhayangkara Hospital to confirm their identities before officials formally coordinate with family members.
The blaze broke out at around 8:36 p.m. on Sunday at the Panti Werdha Damai nursing home in the Ranomuut sub-district of Paal Dua, Manado. Firefighters from the city government responded swiftly, deploying three fire engines and managing to bring the fire under control by approximately 9:30 p.m.
Police officers secured the area soon after receiving reports of the incident and assisted in evacuation and rescue efforts. Survivors were taken to Manado City Regional Hospital and Permata Bunda Hospital for medical treatment, while the deceased were transported for further examination.
Hasibuan said forensic teams are conducting a detailed investigation, including an examination of the scene and questioning witnesses, to reconstruct the events leading up to the fire and determine its preliminary cause.
In a separate recent incident highlighting public safety concerns, Indonesia also witnessed a deadly traffic accident earlier this month. On December 22, at least 15 people were killed and 19 others injured when a passenger bus overturned near the Krapyak toll exit in Semarang, Central Java.
The Semarang Search and Rescue Office reported that the bus was travelling at high speed when the driver lost control, causing it to crash into a road barrier and overturn. Rescue officials said evacuation was challenging, as several victims were trapped inside the wreckage amid shattered glass. All victims were eventually rescued and transported to nearby hospitals.
Authorities continue to investigate both incidents, underscoring the need for stricter safety measures in public facilities and transportation across the country.