Jakarta, Indonesia: A massive fire broke out inside a seven-storey commercial building in Jakarta on Tuesday, leaving at least 20 people dead, officials confirmed. The incident took place around midday, when many employees were either having lunch inside the premises or had stepped out of the office.
Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro said the fire began on the first floor before rapidly spreading to the upper levels of the building. Emergency teams managed to bring the flames under control, but rescue operations continued through the afternoon to search for additional victims and cool down the structure.
Condro said the confirmed death toll had risen to 20 by Tuesday afternoon. “Our priority is evacuating victims and conducting fire cooling to ensure the building is safe for further search operations,” he told reporters.
The building houses the office of Terra Drone Indonesia, a company that offers aerial survey drone services to sectors ranging from mining to agriculture. It is the Indonesian subsidiary of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, as stated on the company’s website.
Television footage aired by Kompas TV showed firefighters attempting to reach people trapped inside, with some emergency responders carrying body bags out of the structure. Several workers were also seen escaping from higher floors using portable ladders.
Both Terra Drone Indonesia and its parent company in Japan have not yet issued a public statement or responded to email requests for comment.
