Indonesia Karaoke Bar Fire Claims 17, Injures Dozens

A fire that started in the second floor of a three-story packed karaoke bar on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island killed 17 people and sent 71 to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

According to the UK newspaper, The Guardian, the fire broke out at about 1 a.m. on Sunday when hundreds of people were singing in private rooms in the Insul Vizta club in Manado.

The paper reported that workers were unable to put out the fires with extinguisher. It appears the fire was caused by a short circuit.

There were complaints that fire apparatus took an hour to arrive and firefighters spent several hours to bring the blaze under control.

People inside the building smashed windows and fled to the streets, while others were stuck inside because there was only one door to the building, The Guardian reported.

Nearly all who died or where injured suffered from smoke inhalation rather than burns.