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One dead as temple catches fire in Semarang
Built in 1746, the Tay Kak Sie temple is one of the oldest temples in Semarang.
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The Tay Kak Sie temple in Semarang, Central Java, caught fire on Thursday morning. (kompas.com/-)
One person died in a fire at the Tay Kak Sie temple in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday morning.
The victim was identified as Sutiyono, 82, who was the temple's guard. An eyewitness, Sofian Candra, said he saw smoke around the temple compound that morning.
“I thought someone was burning garbage. But then I realized the smoke was coming from inside the temple. I heard someone scream for help. I tried to help but the door was locked,” Sofian told The Jakarta Post.
The head of the Semarang Fire and Rescue Agency, Agus, said he had immediately asked the local branch of state-owned electricity company PLN to turn off the temple's power and deployed 12 fire trucks to the site.
Firefighters extinguished the fire at 6 a.m. before it spread to other parts of the compound.
“We found the body of an elderly man [inside the temple]. He probably inhaled too much smoke,” Agus said.
Tay Kak Sie temple was built in 1746 and has been dubbed a cultural heritage.
The head of the Central Semarang Police, Comr. Adi Nugraha, said the police had yet to determine the cause of the fire.
“We have asked for help from the forensics laboratory to investigate the incident,” Adi said.
