Deadly Office Fire in Indonesia: Blaze Claims 20 Lives
Tragedy in Jakarta: 20 Workers Killed as Office Building Erupts in Flames: A deadly fire tore through a seven-story office building in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and leaving several others injured, according to Indonesian authorities. Thick smoke billowed above the city’s business district as workers trapped inside struggled to escape the rapidly spreading flames.
Police confirmed the death toll late Tuesday, noting that the fire broke out in the afternoon and raced through the building, igniting panic throughout the surrounding area. “So far, 20 people have been rescued, including five men and 15 women,” Central Jakarta Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Kondro told AFP, according to a Reuters report. He added that one of the victims was a pregnant woman.
Footage aired by local broadcaster Kompas TV showed intense flames engulfing the upper floors while firefighters fought to reach those still inside. Dense black smoke blanketed nearby streets, forcing residents and office workers to flee as emergency crews rushed in. Teams were later seen carrying multiple body bags from the charred structure as searches continued for any remaining survivors.
Officials said the building houses the offices of Terra Drone Indonesia, a company providing drone technology and services for industries including mining and agriculture, Reuters reported.
Dozens of firefighters were deployed to bring the blaze under control, a process that took several hours, Kompas TV said. The incident comes just weeks after a catastrophic fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district last month that claimed nearly 160 lives, raising renewed concerns about fire safety standards in high-rise buildings across the region.
ALSO READ: Orange Peel Benefits
