Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A fire broke out at Indonesia’s Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Saturday night (Feb. 8, 2025) at approximately 11:00 PM local time. The incident has sparked speculation about potential evidence destruction related to land disputes, but Minister Nusron Wahid has strongly denied any such allegations.
Minister of ATR/BPN Nusron Wahid assured the public that the fire did not destroy any critical documents related to land ownership, such as Building Use Rights (HGB) or Business Use Rights (HGU). According to him, the blaze was confined to the ministry’s Public Relations Bureau on the first floor, an area that does not store sensitive land records.
“The fire affected only the Public Relations Bureau. There are no HGB, HGU, or other land-related documents there. So, there is no such thing as evidence destruction,” Nusron stated on Sunday (Feb. 9, 2025).
Firefighters managed to control the fire swiftly, preventing further damage to the building. “It happened very quickly, just after 11 PM, a small fire broke out in the Public Relations Bureau on the first floor. Thankfully, emergency response was fast, and it was extinguished quickly,” Nusron added.
Investigation Underway: Electrical Short Circuit Suspected
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Initial reports suggest that an electrical short circuit may have triggered the incident, but further examination is required to confirm this theory.
Harison Mocodompis, Head of the Public Relations Bureau, stated that police have sealed off the affected area and are conducting an in-depth investigation to determine the precise cause.
“As of now, law enforcement authorities are handling the investigation. They are also assessing document damage and equipment losses. Most importantly, we are evaluating security measures and fire risk mitigation strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Mocodompis explained.
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Reassurance Amid Public Concern
The fire has raised public concerns, particularly given Indonesia’s history of land disputes and corruption allegations in the property sector. However, officials have emphasized that there was no attempt to erase or tamper with any evidence. The Ministry has also pledged full transparency in the investigation and promised to enhance safety measures within the building.
While authorities work to determine the exact cause of the fire, the incident serves as a reminder of the need for rigorous fire prevention systems in government buildings. The Ministry is now reviewing its safety protocols to ensure the protection of vital records and the safety of employees and visitors.
This developing story will be updated as more details emerge.
(Becky)
