A devastating fire tore through a seven-storey office building in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people. The blaze, which erupted around midday in the Kemayoran neighbourhood, quickly spread through the building, causing panic and trapping workers inside.
Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro confirmed the casualties, stating that 22 bodies—seven men and 15 women, including one pregnant woman—were recovered from the site and taken to a police hospital for identification. Authorities suspect the vast majority of victims died from smoke inhalation as thick, black smoke rapidly engulfed the structure.
The fire is believed to have started on the first floor of the building, which housed the sales and storage office for PT Terra Drone Indonesia, a drone services company. Early witness reports suggest the ignition source may have been a drone battery. “It is suspected that a short circuit or thermal failure in the drone battery triggered an explosion and fire,” survivor Dimitri told local television.
Hundreds of personnel and 29 fire trucks were deployed to tackle the inferno, which was brought under control after three hours of intense effort. Firefighters conducted a tense evacuation, rescuing at least 19 trapped workers. Television footage showed rescuers lowering more than a dozen individuals one-by-one from the sixth floor using an extended emergency ladder, with several workers visibly struggling to breathe amid the smoke.
Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro said that many employees were out for lunch when the fire broke out, which may have prevented an even higher casualty toll. The police have launched a full investigation, stating they will question all witnesses, including the business and building owners, to determine the precise cause and assess whether negligence played a role.