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Fire razes Manado karaoke club, 12 dead
Singing funeral songs: People gather around the bodies of two victims of a fire at a karaoke venue at the morgue of Prof
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Singing funeral songs: People gather around the bodies of two victims of a fire at a karaoke venue at the morgue of Prof. Dr. RD Kandou Malalayang Hospital in Manado, North Sulawesi, Sunday. Twelve people died in the fire that engulfed the Inul Vista Karaoke building in the early hours of Sunday.(JP/Ronny Adolof Buol) (JP/Ronny Adolof Buol)
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span class="inline inline-center">Singing funeral songs: People gather around the bodies of two victims of a fire at a karaoke venue at the morgue of Prof. Dr. RD Kandou Malalayang Hospital in Manado, North Sulawesi, Sunday. Twelve people died in the fire that engulfed the Inul Vista Karaoke building in the early hours of Sunday.(JP/Ronny Adolof Buol)
A fire ravaged the Inul Vizta karaoke club in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Sunday, killing 12 people and injuring dozens of others.
'The injured victims have been rushed to five hospitals in Manado for medical treatment,' North Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Wilson Damanik said.
Wilson said the fire, which broke out at 3 a.m. and originated from the second floor of the three-story club in the Megamas business area, was believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
Seven men and five women died in the fire, most of them as the result of smoke inhalation.
The club, which is part of a chain of karaoke venues owned by popular dangdut singer Inul Daratista, was packed with visitors that night, with many visitors having to queue as all the rooms were occupied.
An eyewitnesses named Roni said that an electricity blackout occurred about 20 minutes before the fire, but that electricity had come back on within a minute.
'I saw a thick smog in the building. It was probably because the fire razed the rooms, which were made from plastic and sponge,' Roni said.
Separately, Manado City Police Chief Sr. Comr. Rio Permana Mandagi said that the karaoke parlor management was facing legal sanctions as no firefighting equipment or fire alarms were found at the site.
'We will interrogate the management. The place did not have firefighting equipment. This is nonstandard,' Rio said as quoted by tribunnews.com on Sunday.
He added that the police would also conduct a thorough crime scene investigation.
'So far our prediction is that it was an electrical short circuit. If an element of intention or negligence is found, we will continue with a legal process,' Rio said.
Among the 12 victims were Fredy Kalalo and his wife Claudia Wowor, who came to the karaoke club to celebrate their friend's birthday.
The couple from Klabat Stadium area, Manado, had only recently married and Caludia was reportedly pregnant.
The niece of Minahasa Regent Jantje Sajow, Sinta Sajow, was also among the victims'
'We express condolences regarding the death of the regent's niece,' regency spokesperson Agustivo Tumundo said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, injured victims are currently being treated at a number of hospitals in Manado including Kandou Malalayang, Siloam, Pancaran Kasih, Prof. Dr. VL Ratumbuysang and Bhayangkara.
Commenting about the accident, Inul Daratista wrote on her Instagram account on Sunday that the fire at the business that she had been running for 10 years was a warning for her about a better future.
'No matter how hard the conditions are, this is the path that has been set. It's now up to me how to deal with it wisely and well,' said the singer who is known for her gyrating dance.
She also uploaded a picture depicting a quote: 'Don't be afraid of facing difficulties or problems because it's there that wise people, great people and smart people are made and formed.'
Inul who was born in Pasuruan, East Java, opened the first Inul Vizta in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, with an investment of Rp 4 billion (US$293,700). After the venue proved to be a success, Inul started opening up branches across the country.
Her husband, Adam Suseno, and a close Korean friend reportedly assist Inul run her karaoke business.
