- Andrew Tito/VIVA.
Jakarta – The Indonesian Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim revealed that no casualties in the National Museum fire on Saturday.
"Alhamdulillah, there were no casualties. Currently, the main priority is saving the artifacts and historical objects in the museum," Minister Makarim said on Saturday.
According to its website, the museum boasts a collection of at least 190,000 historic items, including archaeological artifacts, numismatic collections, ancient heraldic lines, ceramics, Hindu and Buddhist statues, and ethnographic items. Among its prized possessions is the Dipangkara Statue, believed to be the country's oldest bronze Buddhist statue.
An internal investigation team has also been deployed by Minister Makarim to determine the exact cause of the fire and immediately collect data on the affected and salvaged collections.
Museum Nasional kebakaran
- ANTARA FOTO/ Fakhri Hermansyah
"The Ministry will cooperate with authorities to ensure the investigation will be done transparently,” the Minister said.
Regular updates will be provided to the public as the situation develops.
"We ask for prayers and support from all parties,”
As known, the National Museum located on Jl Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, opposite the National Monument, was hit by a fire on Saturday night, in this incident 13 units of fire trucks were deployed to the location.
Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarnat) Head Satriadi Gunawan said there were also 52 personnel deployed to the location in the first stage of handling.
"We deployed 13 units and 52 personnel to the location," Satriadi Gunawan informed in his statement on Saturday.
