• Source:JND
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Indonesia Fire: A deadly fire tore through a seven-storey office building in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and sparking panic in the busy business district, police and emergency officials said. According to Central Jakarta Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro, the blaze broke out around midday on the first floor of the building before rapidly spreading to the upper levels. Thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky, alarming nearby residents and office workers in the surrounding neighbourhood.

“The fire has been extinguished, but we are still focusing on evacuating victims and carrying out cooling operations,” Condro told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. He added that search and rescue teams were continuing to comb through the structure to look for any remaining victims.

Workers Trapped As Fire Spread Quickly

At the time of the incident, several employees were reportedly having lunch inside the building, while others had already stepped out of the office. Investigators believe that those trapped on higher floors had limited time to escape as smoke and flames spread quickly through stairwells and corridors.

Local media footage aired by Kompas TV showed dozens of firefighters battling the blaze from multiple angles. Dramatic visuals captured emergency responders carrying body bags out of the building, while some trapped workers were seen escaping from upper floors using portable ladders extended by rescue teams.

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Drone Company’s Office Identified

The building has been identified as the office of Terra Drone Indonesia, a company that provides aerial survey services using drones for industries ranging from mining to agriculture. The firm is the Indonesian unit of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, according to information published on the company’s website.

Neither Terra Drone Indonesia nor its parent company immediately responded to requests for comment. While the flames are now under control, officials warned that the death toll could rise as search operations continue.

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