At least three people have died and five others were injured after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, Indonesian authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The National Disaster Management Agency said the cause of death has not been determined, though state news agency Antara reported that some victims were trapped inside the building. Two of the injured were hurt while jumping from windows to escape the flames.
The unrest marks the most serious challenge yet for President Prabowo Subianto, who took office in October last year. Demonstrations first erupted in Jakarta earlier in the week over lawmakers’ pay and escalated on Friday when a police armored vehicle struck and killed a ride-hailing motorbike driver.
Prabowo visited the driver’s family on Friday evening, offering condolences and promising a thorough investigation. Meanwhile, reports of looting and damage to transport facilities were recorded in Jakarta, with protests also spreading to cities including Bandung and Yogyakarta.
Jakarta’s mass rapid transit system said trains would bypass one station near the protest site, while parts of the Transjakarta bus service were also suspended. Authorities reported calm by Saturday, but warned tensions could rise again as demonstrations continue nationwide.
