Indonesia market fire kills 11, including six children

At least 11 people, including six children, have died after a fire tore through a market and nearby buildings in Indonesia’s eastern Papua region, police said on Monday.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight in Paniai, Central Papua province, and quickly spread to several shophouses, according to local police spokesman Henry Manurung.

“During the inspection, officers found 11 victims who had died with burn injuries. Of the 11 victims, five of them were adults, while the other six were children,” Henry said in a statement.

He said the children were aged between two and nine.

The blaze raged for more than three hours, destroying at least 40 kiosks and houses despite the deployment of fire trucks and water cannons.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire.