A traditional stall on Jl. Pancing, Denpasar, caught fire after an unidentified motorcyclist collided into it in the early hours of Monday morning. The driver died in the flames while three others are still undergoing treatment for severe burns.
According a report by Nusa Bali, the victim, who was driving a Yamaha Soul DR 2679, was careering northwards when he lost control and smashed into the corner of the stall. The force of the collision caused him to break through the fragile wall, shattering rows of glass bottles filled with petrol.
The tragic turn of events occurred at around 4:15am, just as stall owner Supini, 49, was busy preparing for the morning’s business. “When the collision occurred, the shop owner was cooking in the kitchen,” said Muchtar, a local resident, to the source. Flames from the gas cooking stove met with the spilled petrol and within minutes, the 6-x-3-meter wooden stall was ablaze.
At the time, Supini’s husband, Anifan, 59, was about to wash in preparation for morning prayers.
“I was planning on taking a shower, but before I had the chance, there was an explosion. Gasoline had spread everywhere. It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to dress, I just quickly covered myself with a makeshift cloth,” said Anifan, talking from his bed at Sanglah Hospital to the source.
The other burn victim was Ni Made Sukani, a Balinese woman who happened to be shopping at the stall.
Sadly, the driver could not be saved. Muchtar, the eyewitness who lives in a room behind the stall, said that he was shocked to see the man’s charred body enclosed by flames. All three burn victims were sent to Sanglah Hospital for immediate treatment. Despite firefighters’ efforts, the modest stall was completely burnt out by 6:20am, as reported by Kumparan.
A Facebook video captured by netizen Gede Baglur, shows the extent of the damage.
South Denpasar Police Chief Nyoman Wirajaya, said that investigations to undercover the identity of the motorcyclist are still ongoing. No ID card was found on the body; the only clue as to the man’s identity is a photo that was strapped to the bike’s dashboard. Wirajaya explained that the picture is of a person wearing an airport clerk uniform.
“It cannot be ascertained whether the photo belongs to the victim or not because the face of the victim is difficult to recognize due to burns,” he told Nusa Bali.
Banyuwangi couple Anifan and Supini had been selling groceries, petrol, and water gallons at the modest warung for nine years.
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