A major fire engulfed 350 stalls at the Kramat Jati Central Market in East Jakarta on Monday (12/15/2025) morning, allegedly caused by an electrical short circuit. The losses from the incident are estimated to reach between Rp 10 billion and Rp 30 billion. Not only causing physical damage, the fire at the market, which supplies commodities to markets in the Jakarta metropolitan area, could potentially trigger inflation.
Inevitably, this fire must be dealt with immediately to prevent inflation and food distribution difficulties. Handling the fire must involve cross-sector cooperation.
Chairperson of the Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the 2019-2024 term, Diana Dewi, said that the kiosks that burned down at the Kramat Jati Central Market were the main source of fruit purchases for traders who then sold them at retail.
The Jakarta Provincial Government and Pasar Jaya are moving quickly to address the scarcity of fruit and other foodstuffs affected by the situation. One measure is the temporary relocation of fruit vendors to locations where they can resume trading.
"In fact, the provincial government also provides compensation that can certainly be used as working capital," Diana told SUAR Jakarta (12/16/2025).
The Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to monitor the sustainability of these traders' businesses. As is well known, demand for fruit tends to increase at the end of the year, especially in December, due to Christmas and New Year celebrations, driven by increased spending on fruit and the availability of seasonal fruit.
In his official statement, the Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of Ikkapi DKI Jakarta, Miftahudin, said that the fire affected 350 business premises. The total losses suffered by traders are estimated to reach Rp 35 billion.
According to him, the fire at Kramat Jati Central Market could have a widespread impact on fruit supplies in the Greater Jakarta area. This is because Kramat Jati Central Market is a fruit distribution center that operates every day and plays a strategic role in maintaining the smooth supply of fruit commodities in this region.
Capital and relocation
IPB Economic Observer Dwi Andreas said that traders who were victims of the fire at Kramat Jati Central Market must be assisted with working capital or relocation.
Working capital is very important for fire victims so that they can quickly get back on their feet. "Without working capital, victims find it difficult to meet their basic needs and rebuild their lives," he told SUAR Jakarta (12/16/2025).
The main function of Kramat Jati Central Market is as a major wholesale distribution center for fresh products such as fruits and vegetables, serving all of Jakarta and Greater Jakarta, becoming the heart of basic supply, connecting farmers directly to small traders, and playing a role in commodity price formation with its 24-hour operation.
The fire that occurred on Monday (12/15/2025) certainly had a major impact on food distribution, therefore working capital is needed as soon as possible for the victims.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has confirmed that the construction of temporary locations for traders affected by the fire at Kramat Jati Central Market in East Jakarta will be completed within a maximum of five days.
This acceleration measure was taken to ensure that trading activities continue, especially ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
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The statement was made by Pramono after directly observing the location of the fire at Kramat Jati Central Market on Tuesday (12/16/2025). He emphasized that quick action is needed to maintain the smooth supply and distribution of food in Jakarta.
"I request that this be handled quickly, within five days, so that it does not interfere with supply or procurement in preparation for Christmas and New Year," said Pramono in a press release received by SUAR Jakarta (16/12).
The Jakarta Provincial Government has ensured that traders can continue to sell their goods by relocating them to a temporary shelter located about 100 meters from the site of the fire. This location was chosen so that trading activities can resume without changing the existing distribution pattern. The relocation is targeted to be completed within a maximum of five days.
The area of the Kramat Jati Central Market that burned down covers approximately 6,196 square meters. Based on initial calculations, the losses caused by the fire are estimated to reach Rp 10 billion. Pramono said that the burned market building was insured, so the renovation process will be handled by the insurance company through the manager of Perumda Pasar Jaya.
In addition to physical renovations, Pramono also requested that market improvements be accompanied by the strengthening of fire prevention systems, particularly in electrical installations. He believes that electrical short circuits are often the main cause of fires in traditional markets. The Jakarta Provincial Government will also add hydrant facilities to improve firefighting preparedness in market areas.
To assist traders during the recovery period, the Jakarta Provincial Government distributed aid to 121 affected traders, each receiving Rp 5 million.
