A deadly office building fire in central Jakarta has killed at least 22 people, including a pregnant woman, after flames tore through a seven-storey structure used for drone storage and sales. Thick smoke spread quickly across the Kemayoran district on Tuesday, forcing workers to flee to the rooftop and sparking panic in surrounding neighbourhoods.
Police say the blaze began shortly after midday, likely originating from a sparking battery in a first-floor testing and charging area. The fire spread rapidly before many employees returned from lunch, leaving several trapped on upper floors.
Dozens of fire crews and 29 trucks were dispatched to contain the flames as dramatic evacuation footage showed firefighters lowering trapped workers one-by-one from the sixth floor. Many victims struggled to breathe through the dense smoke while waiting their turn to escape.
Authorities confirmed that most deaths resulted from smoke inhalation rather than burns. Nineteen survivors were pulled from the building and treated for shock and breathing difficulties. A firefighter and a police officer were also treated after inhaling heavy smoke.
Police say they are continuing to search the building as conditions remain hazardous. Thick smoke has prevented investigators from entering certain areas, and officials warn the toll could rise.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung criticized the building’s lack of proper emergency exits, calling for stronger workplace safety standards and mandatory evacuation planning.
The facility was occupied by PT Terra Drone Indonesia, a commercial drone company serving sectors from mining and energy to construction and plantation surveillance. Families gathered at nearby hospitals and outside the damaged site awaiting confirmation of the dead.
