20 killed in nightclub blaze

AT least 20 people died late last night when a fire gutted a popular nightclub in Indonesia's South Sumatra province, police said.

The blaze destroyed four floors of the large karaoke bar in the provincial capital Palembang, Captain Arum Prioyono said.

Rescuers blasted through the wall of the club to allow dozens of people trapped inside to escape the burning building.

The club, located in a busy shopping area, had no proper fire exits and the only lift was broken, Prioyono said.

Several of the victims died after jumping from windows on the upper floors to escape the flames, he said.

Two survivors are being treated in hospital, while 18 others who suffered minor injuries were released, officials said. Firefighters extinguished the fire early yesterday, Prioyono said, adding that they expected to discover more bodies after searching through the building.

“But thick smoke is still preventing them from entering the building,” he said. “We fear there are other bodies as dozens of people are still missing.”

Prioyono said investigators believed the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit. Operators of karaoke bars, cinemas, internet cafes and other entertainment businesses in Indonesia frequently ignore fire safety rules or fail to provide emergency exits on the premises.