At least 22 people have been confirmed dead after a devastating fire ripped through a seven-storey office building in central Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.
Authorities say the blaze was triggered by an exploding battery on the first floor, which quickly ignited surrounding materials and spread upward through the structure before firefighters managed to contain it.
Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro announced the updated death toll on Tuesday, raising it from an earlier figure of 17.
He revealed that most of the victims were women, including a pregnant woman, and warned that the number could rise further as search teams comb the building for those still missing or trapped.
Fire crews are now working to cool the building and clear dense smoke that continues to smother several floors. “We will search the place again once it is cleared,” Susatyo said.
According to the Jakarta Fire Department, more than 100 firefighters and 29 fire trucks were deployed to battle the blaze. Investigators believe most of the victims died from asphyxiation rather than burns, and the bodies have been transported to a police hospital for autopsy and identification.
“We are still collecting data, but for now, we are focusing on identifying the victims who have been found,” Susatyo added.
Footage from the scene showed the charred exterior of the building—used by an agricultural drone services company—with shattered windows and blackened walls.
Firefighters used industrial fans to ventilate the structure as curious onlookers gathered behind police lines, watching as a body bag was carried out from the smouldering site.
Deadly fires are tragically common in Indonesia. Just last year, an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in the country’s east killed at least 12 people.
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