Tragic Fire Claims 16 Lives at Nursing Home in Indonesia's Manado
Fire Incident in Manado Nursing Home
Jakarta: Authorities in Indonesia are working to identify the 16 individuals who tragically lost their lives in a fire at a nursing home in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, as reported on Monday.
The identification of the victims is taking place at the Bhayangkara Hospital, as stated by Alamsyah P. Hasibuan, the head of public relations for the North Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sulut).
Hasibuan mentioned that the goal of this identification process is to confirm the identities of the deceased before coordinating with their families.
The fire erupted at approximately 8:36 p.m. local time on Sunday at the Panti Werdha Damai nursing home, situated in the Ranomuut Sub-district of Paal Dua District, Manado. Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames by around 9:30 p.m. after three fire engines were dispatched by the local government.
In response to the fire, police quickly secured the area and assisted in rescue efforts. Survivors were taken to Manado City Regional Hospital and Permata Bunda Hospital, while the deceased were moved for further processing.
Police forensic teams have initiated an investigation, which includes examining the crime scene and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the fire and its initial cause.
In a separate incident earlier on December 22, a bus accident in Semarang city, Central Java province, resulted in 15 fatalities and 19 injuries. Local authorities reported that the bus was traveling at high speed when the driver lost control, causing it to crash into a road barrier and overturn.
Budiono, head of the Semarang Search and Rescue Office, noted that the evacuation was challenging as some victims were trapped inside the bus, with access hindered by shattered glass. Rescue teams had to carefully enter the overturned vehicle to reach the victims.
The office confirmed that all individuals involved in the bus accident have been successfully evacuated and transported to nearby hospitals.