Tragic fire in Jakarta office building claims over 20 lives

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Tragic fire in Jakarta office building claims over 20 lives

1 month ago

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REUTERS

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INDIATIMES

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THEJAKARTAPOST

BBC

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Tragic fire in Jakarta office building claims over 20 lives

Credited from: REUTERS

A fire in Jakarta's office building has led to at least 22 confirmed deaths.
The blaze, triggered by a battery ignition, rapidly spread through the seven-storey structure.
Efforts to rescue and evacuate trapped workers continued for several hours.

A deadly fire erupted in a seven-storey office building in Jakarta on Tuesday, with police confirming that at least 22 people have died, among them a pregnant woman. The blaze began on the first floor, quickly spreading upward as thick smoke engulfed the area, prompting distress among nearby residents and witnesses, according to Los Angeles Times and BBC.

The fire, which started around midday, is believed to have been caused by a battery explosion in a storage area of the building that houses Terra Drone Indonesia, a company specializing in drone services for various industries. Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro noted that many employees were out for lunch when the fire began, and efforts involved over 29 fire trucks and 101 personnel to combat the blaze, as reported by The Jakarta Post and South China Morning Post.

Emergency services confirmed that many victims succumbed to smoke inhalation rather than burns. As rescue operations progressed, firefighters managed to save around 19 people, although many were critically affected by the conditions inside the building, according to eyewitnesses and local reports by Reuters and India Times.