Jakarta: A fire in a seven-story office building in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people.
According to Thai News Agency, local media released videos showing a raging fire engulfing the office building belonging to a drone company. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon local time.
The fire department mobilized over 100 personnel and 29 water trucks to the scene in an effort to extinguish the blaze, which took over three hours to bring under control. During this time, dozens of firefighters assisted in evacuating people from inside the building and removed bags containing the bodies of those who died.
The Jakarta fire chief reported that the fire led to at least 22 deaths, including 15 women, one of whom was pregnant. Nineteen survivors were rescued after fleeing to the rooftop of the building. The building housed the offices of Terra Drone Indonesia, a company specializing in drone services for aerial surveys. Witnesses indicated that the fire began during lunchtime and spread rapidly before the arrival of firefighters. It is believed that a short circuit in a drone battery sparked the fire in a storage and testing area, which then spread to the upper floors.
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police Commissioner has stated that the true cause of the fire is still under investigation by the forensic team. Police are questioning all witnesses, including the company owner and the building owner, to determine whether the fire was a result of negligence or if other individuals are responsible.