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Families mourn as they await identification of factory fire victims
"My brother and I are now orphans, but we won't give up. We will go on with life full of optimism," said 19-year-old Riko Pradana, whose mother died in a factory blaze on Friday in North Sumatra.
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Residents inspect a lighter factory that was destroyed by a fire in Langkat, North Sumatra, on June 22. (Antara/Septianda Perdana)
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cigarette lighter factory fire in Langkat regency, North Sumatra, left 19-year-old Riko Pradana and his younger brother without their mother.
Riko's father died three years ago in a motorcycle accident, while his mother, Sumiasih, a 39-year-old factory worker, was among the 30 people who died in the blaze on Friday afternoon. Riko has yet to see her body because it is still in the process of being identified at Bhayangkara Police Hospital, North Sumatra.
"It's been two days and there is no sign that my mother's body has been identified, even though all the victims' bodies have been found intact," Riko told The Jakarta Post at the hospital on Saturday.
He said his mother had worked at the factory for a long time.
"My mother never complained about working at the factory, even though she only got piece-rate wages," he said. "My brother and I are now orphans, but we won't give up. We will go on with life full of optimism."
Faisal, 38, was also at the hospital, awaiting the identification of the body of his wife, Marlia, 36. He said he had already brought all the requested documents but was still asked to wait.
