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City to probe possible negligence in fire that killed two
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The under-construction Swiss-Belhotel caught fire on Sunday. Two workers died and 13 were injured in the incident. (Antara/Rosa Panggabean)
T
he Jakarta administration is investigating a fire that occurred at the construction site of the 27-story Swiss-Belhotel in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta that claimed two lives on Sunday over suspicions that the construction company failed to provide proper safety equipment to its workers.
The city’s manpower and transmigration agency started the probe by deploying four employees on Monday to meet with the parties in charge of the construction, the agency's head, Priyono, said. The agency suspected that the construction company had failed to provide proper safety equipment, especially for emergency situations.
"There should be equipment that workers can use to save themselves. In the incident, workers could only find steel rope," he told thejakartapost.com on Monday.
The equipment was crucial as the building was still under construction, Priyono said. In the half-constructed building, the workers were not able to use the stairs, he added. The agency urged all construction companies to provide better safety equipment to workers.
Sanctions may be imposed on parties found responsible for the fire after the agency completes its investigation, Priyono said.
Workers on the 23rd floor of the building got trapped during the fire. Two people died and 13 were injured as they tried save themselves by using steel rope to reach the security platform. (rin)
