Seven Killed In Siantar Monastery Fire

Medan, N Sumatra ( Berita ) :  The Avalo Kitesvara monastery in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, was razed by fire on Sunday at 1 a.m, West Indonesia Time, killing seven people.

Siantar deputy police chief Commissioner Shafwan Khayat said in Medan on Sunday that the fire broke out in a praying hall on the monastery’s second floor.

The raging flames spread to adjoining rooms on the same floor,  and eventually reached the third floor.

Seven people lost their lives in the fire, while even others sustained serious burns, he said.

The seven dead people consisted of Dian Pirgunawan (20) and Nizar (18) of the building’s cleaning service, Sujad Widodo (40) and Yu Sen (58), teachers, and three visitors Ai Nie (30), Ai Cin (30) and Chun Fung (60).

The seven injured people, now still at the Pematang Siantar general hospital’s intensive care unit for their serious burns,  were Achai (40), Sie Kwan (32), Aina (30), Aho (65), Surinah (53), Liu Chin (52) and Chen Sien (36). The police is still trying to find the cause of the deadly fire, by questioning many people. ( ant )