Terra Drone Building Blaze Leaves 22 Dead, Fire Probe Underway

INTERNATIONAL – A devastating fire tore through a seven-story office building in Jakarta’s Kemayoran district on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people, including a pregnant woman, police confirmed, plunging families and colleagues into shock and grief. The blaze erupted around midday in a structure used by PT Terra Drone Indonesia, a drone technology company, and quickly engulfed the building, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and sparking panic among workers and nearby residents.

Firefighters fighting against fire inside of the building.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro said the fire likely began on the first floor — in a storage and testing area where batteries were kept — shortly before it raced upward through the office block. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang before flames spread, and many employees were either on their lunch break or still inside when the situation escalated. Rescuers believe a sparking battery may have triggered the blaze, though forensic teams are continuing their investigation. “The exact cause is still under investigation by the forensic laboratory team,” officials said as they combed the site for evidence.

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Emergency personnel responded swiftly, with 29 fire trucks and more than 100 firefighters battling the inferno for three hours before extinguishing it, while teams used aerial ladders to reach trapped workers on upper floors. Some survivors were evacuated from the sixth floor and taken to safety; at least 19 others were rescued in weak or traumatized condition. Many of those who died succumbed to smoke inhalation rather than direct flame injuries, police reported as bodies were recovered and transported to the police hospital in East Jakarta for identification.

Authorities have also raised concerns about safety shortcomings in the building’s evacuation routes and fire exits, prompting a broader look at fire-safety compliance in the city’s structures. Investigators are questioning building management and company officials as they piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. As relatives await news of missing loved ones, Jakarta’s officials are under pressure to tighten fire-safety standards to prevent such a catastrophic loss of life in the future.