A massive overnight fire tore through a market area in Indonesia’s Central Papua province on Monday, killing 11 people, including six children, and destroying around 40 homes and market stalls, police said.

The blaze broke out at approximately 12:25 a.m. local time in the market area of Bapouda village in East Paniai district. It quickly intensified and spread to tightly packed houses and shops surrounding the market, making it difficult for firefighters to contain the flames.

Central Papua police spokesperson Henry J. Manurung said authorities discovered 11 victims during an inspection of the burned area. Five of those killed were adults, while the remaining six were children. Local reports said the children were between 2 and 9 years old.

The fire burned for more than three hours, destroying approximately 40 buildings, including market kiosks and nearby homes.

Police deployed a tactical water-spraying vehicle to assist firefighting teams, with the blaze brought under control at around 3:30 a.m. local time. Officials said the tightly packed arrangement of the buildings and the intensity of the flames significantly slowed the firefighting operation.

All 11 victims were evacuated to Paniai Regional Hospital for further handling and identification, according to Indonesian authorities.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and are collecting statements from witnesses while examining the scene.

Authorities have not yet identified a possible source of ignition, and there was no immediate indication that the fire was deliberately started. Investigators are expected to examine the remains of the market structures and surrounding buildings as part of the inquiry.

The tragedy comes as Indonesia continues to face deadly fires in densely built areas, where closely spaced structures can allow flames to spread rapidly and complicate firefighting operations.

For now, authorities in Central Papua are focused on identifying the victims, supporting affected residents and determining what caused the deadly blaze. (ILKHA)