Tangerang Police are still investigating the cause of the fire which claimed the lives of eight workers in a steel-cutting factory in Kosambi district, Tangerang.
Tangerang police chief Sr. Comr. Agus Andrianto said Saturday forensic investigators were still looking into evidence at the site, which belongs to PT Surya Sejahtera Metalindo Lestari.
"We have questioned six workers, the company's president director Warjono and the director Wiriyanto as witnesses in the fire incident," he said.
He said so far, however, arson by the owner was unlikely because two of the victims were relatives of the warehouse owner.
Fire burned down the steel-cutting factory located at Pantai Indah Dadap Warehousing Complex Block K-7 in Kosambi on Friday afternoon. Workers panicked and fled but eight workers got trapped and died.
Survivors of the incident said a big blaze suddenly appeared in the welding area on the first floor.
"The big fire spread really quickly and all the workers on the first floor ran in a panic," survivor Eko Marhaen Dianto said.
Firdaus, who worked in the cutting department, said flames first appeared right under the stairs leading to the second floor.
"It flared up quickly and blocked the way out from the second floor. At least seven workers were up there along with two mechanics repairing computers," he said.
The eight fatalities were identified as Endang, 20, Lisye, 25, Malla, 26, Mei Ling, 32, Merry, 20, Priyono, 30, Ratna, 20, and Tasya, 28. They were found dead on the second floor which functioned as the factory's administrative office.
The victims' bodies were sent to the morgue at Tangerang General Hospital for identification.
Forensic investigators at the fire scene said strong indicators suggested the fire was caused by sparks from the welding area.
"The sparks landed on the foam of the partition wall in the factory warehouse and the fire spread quickly," said one officer who requested anonymity.
One male worker, Muhamad I'if, was rushed to the hospital after being badly injured. He survived the fire trap by jumping from the second floor. -- JP/Multa Fidrus
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