inp.polri.go.id - Papua. A massive fire engulfed a residential area and a row of shophouses on Sulawesi street, Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Mountains, on Tuesday (3/31/2026) at around 12:40 a.m. 

This tragic incident claimed the lives of 11 people, while four shophouses were also destroyed. Material losses are estimated at IDR 8–10 billion.

The Head of Public Relations for the Papua Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Cahyo Sukarnito, explained that the fire was first detected several minutes after midnight. 

"Around 12:50 a.m. personnel from the Jayawijaya Sub-regional Police's Alert Team, along with firefighters, arrived and immediately attempted to extinguish the fire and evacuate the people," he said in an interview at the Papua Regional Police Headquarters in Jayapura City on Tuesday (March 31, 2026). 

Cahyo said the flames quickly spread to other buildings, complicating rescue efforts.

According to witness accounts, most of the victims were believed to have been asleep when the fire broke out. Those who noticed the fire tried knocking and waking other occupants, even attempting to escape through the rear of the building by breaking down the grilles and using emergency ladders. These efforts saved several people, although others were unable to escape.

The fire was finally fully extinguished around 3:40 a.m. after hours of efforts extinguishing the fire. The joint team then evacuated the bodies of the 11 victims, most of whom were found on the second floor of the building. 

"All bodies have been taken to Wamena Regional Hospital for post-mortem examinations and autopsies as part of the investigation. We are still investigating the cause of the fire," explained Cahyo.

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