Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) – Paniai Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Royke Betaubun said all 11 victims of a fire in Bapouda Village, East Paniai Subdistrict, Paniai District, Central Papua Province, had been identified.
“The Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team identified all 11 bodies. After identification, the remains were handed to their families for burial,” Royke told ANTARA on Wednesday evening.
The 11 identified victims comprised five adults and six children.
The adult victims were Najamuddin, 70; married couple Hasyim, 30, and Risma Falma, 28; and married couple Wandi, 36, and Herlina, 30.
The six children were Arsi, 9; Icha, 6; Al Yusuf, 2; Aska, 9; Abie, 6; and Adit, 5.
Hasyim and Risma Falma were the parents of Arsi, Icha and Al Yusuf, while Wandi and Herlina were the parents of Aska, Abie and Adit.
The fire broke out in Bapouda Village at about 00:25 a.m. local time on Monday (September 7), destroying about 40 buildings, some of which housed small grocery shops.
Police are still investigating the cause of the fire and have questioned several witnesses, in addition to identifying the victims.
Royke said one witness claimed to have seen two people in front of Najamuddin’s house shortly before the fire started and spread through the building.
“A witness said they saw two people in front of Najamuddin’s house before the fire started and engulfed the victim’s home,” he said.
Investigators are examining the witness statement to determine the cause of the fire, Royke said.
The DVI team arrived in Enarotali on Tuesday (September 8) and began identifying the remains at Paniai Regional General Hospital.
Police have also involved a forensic laboratory team to examine evidence and help determine the cause of the fire.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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