Heavy rain fell on the blackened ruins of the Pasar Kebon Kampang market last night as survivors and witnesses told how many of the fire victims died locked in a department store stockroom.
Security officials sealed off the sprawling five-block market and rescue work was halted as night fell.
Flames were still visible from deep within the main block, a four-storey building crowned by the Ramayana department store.
Witness Rachman Iskandar said the fire began in the lower levels of the building about 6 am.
Most workers in the small shops and traditional markets surrounding the blocks at first ignored the fire, thinking it would not spread, he said.
However, by 9 am it had already taken over several floors, Mr Iskandar said.
Security officials then locked several exits, thinking the evacuation complete. Others tried to drag some of the goods with them but were forced to abandon them.
