A Duren Sawit resident inspects damage at a home in East Jakarta hit by a mysterious object last week. Some say it was a meteor. (Antara Photo)
Residents of three homes in East Jakarta’s Duren Sawit urban ward damaged by a falling object some have called a meteorite are clamoring for compensation from the state, while neighborhood children are scared of a repeat.
Acie Sunarsih, 31, complained of lost business after the damage to her home forced her to close her beauty parlor on Jalan Delima II.
“I don’t know when I can reopen it, because I need to fix the ceiling and buy some salon equipment,” she said on Sunday. “I used to make Rp 300,000 to Rp 500,000 [$33 to $55.50] a day from this beauty parlor.”
Some have speculated that a meteorite was to blame for the incident, but there has been no official explanation.
Acie said she had been doing a facial treatment for a customer when the object hit, sending them fleeing outside. Her house, with the beauty parlor in the front, was heavily damaged. Three bedrooms and the dining room were reduced to rubble.
Kusnadi, Acie’s husband, said the family would need at least Rp 200 million to rebuild the 78-square-meter house.
“That’s all we need, but we haven’t received anything from the government,” he said. “I’m still working and we have some savings, but it won’t be enough.”
Kusnadi and Acie have a 4-year-old daughter.
The home of Soebari Marzuki, 70, was also damaged in Thursday’s incident.
“I thank God my wife and I weren’t in at the time,” he told the Jakarta Globe. “The damage is extensive, but I’m thankful that we’re still alive.
“We’ve lived here since 1979, so it’s quite sad that this happened,” he said. “I want to rebuild, with help from the government, because this was an accident, after all.”
He said officials from Malaka Sari subdistrict had pledged their help, but had not done anything concrete yet. Officials and police were to visit today, and Soebari said he hoped they would be able to shed light on what had damaged the homes.
Police have cordoned off the three damaged house.
The neighborhood children, meanwhile, have been traumatized by the incident.
“I’m afraid that one day my home will be hit by a UFO or other object falling from space,” said Dimas, 10. “We’re all scared that our homes aren’t safe anymore.”
Saffa, Soebari’s granddaughter, said she cried when the incident occurred. “I thought my grandfather had died inside the house,” she said, adding that she lived just 30 meters away. “I was riding my bicycle at the time. I heard a sound like a jet engine roaring when it happened.”
Ardian, 7, said he wished his family would move. “I think we need a new house far away from here,” he said. “I’m scared of staying at home now. I’d rather play outdoors than stay inside.”
Tuty, 56, told the Globe: “All the kids are asking their parents about UFOs and aliens.
“We tell them that everything’s fine and we just need to wait for the official report from police and experts.”
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