The fire erupted this afternoon on the first floor of an office building in Jakarta, police reported. The building houses Terra Drone Indonesia, a company specializing in providing drones for aerial surveys in the mining and agriculture sectors.

An initial battery explosion on the first floor ignited the blaze, which then spread to upper levels, generating thick smoke. While officials did not specify the type of battery or the cause of its explosion, most civilian and commercial drones utilize high-energy lithium batteries.

Television footage displayed dozens of firefighters evacuating individuals from the building, with some carrying body bags.

Susatyo Purnomo Condro, Central Jakarta police chief, stated that "20 deceased victims have been removed, comprising five men and 15 women". He added that one of the victims was a pregnant woman.

Most victims appeared to have no burns, suggesting they likely died from smoke inhalation. The bodies were transported to the police hospital for forensic examination.

Firefighters have extinguished the blaze, but they continue to search the site for individuals who may still be trapped inside the building. Susatyo added, "We are still collecting data, but our current focus is on identifying the victims found."

Firefighters remove the body of a victim from the burning building. *Photo: AFP*

Deadly fires are not uncommon in Indonesia. In 2023, at least 12 people died and 39 were injured in eastern Indonesia following an explosion at a nickel processing plant.

By Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)