WEB DESK: A fire erupted on Tuesday in a seven-story building in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, leaving 22 people dead. Authorities reported that the fire was caused by an exploding battery on the first floor, which quickly spread to the upper stories of the building in central Jakarta before being extinguished.
The majority of the victims were women, including a pregnant individual, noted Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro. The death toll might still increase as rescue teams continue their search for possible survivors or additional casualties trapped within the building.
Nineteen individuals managed to escape the fire by fleeing to the rooftop. Meanwhile, firefighters worked to cool the structure and clear heavy smoke from several floors. Once conditions improve, the site will undergo another thorough inspection, Susatyo stated.
More than 100 firefighters and 29 fire trucks were deployed to tackle the blaze, according to the Jakarta Fire Department. The police chief mentioned that most fatalities were likely caused by asphyxiation rather than burns.
The deceased have been transported to a police hospital for autopsies. Authorities are focusing on identifying the victims as more information is collected, Susatyo added.
The fire broke out around midday while many of the building’s occupants, employed at what served as a sales and storage office for a drone company, were out for lunch. It took firefighters three hours to completely put out the blaze.
At least 22 bodies comprising seven men and 15 women were recovered from the site and sent to the East Jakarta police hospital for identification purposes.
The building housed Terra Drone Indonesia, a provider of drone services specialized in aerial surveys across various industries, including mining and agriculture. The company is the Indonesian branch of Japan’s Terra Drone Corporation, as stated on its official website.
