Indonesian police are in the process of identifying the 16 individuals who lost their lives in a fire at a nursing home in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province. The victims’ bodies are undergoing identification at Bhayangkara Hospital of the North Sulawesi Regional Police, as confirmed by Alamsyah P. Hasibuan, the head of public relations of Polda Sulut. The aim of this identification process is to establish the full identities of the victims before coordinating with their families.
The fire broke out at the Panti Werdha Damai nursing home in Ranomuut Sub-district, Paal Dua District, Manado, around 8:36 p.m. local time on Sunday. Three fire engines dispatched by the Manado city government managed to extinguish the blaze by about 9:30 p.m. Following the incident, police officers swiftly secured the area and aided in rescue operations. Survivors were evacuated 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 conducting witness interviews to determine the sequence of events and the initial cause of the fire, according to Hasibuan. In a separate incident on December 22, a bus accident in Semarang city, Central Java province, resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals and injuries to 19 others. The accident occurred at the intersection of the Krapyak toll exit, where a passenger bus, reportedly speeding, lost control, hit a road barrier, and overturned.
Budiono, the head of the Semarang Search and Rescue Office, highlighted the challenges faced during the evacuation process due to victims being trapped inside the overturned bus, obstructed access, and broken glass. Despite the difficulties, rescue personnel successfully evacuated all victims, who were then transported to local hospitals.
