Inferno in Jakarta: Drone Battery Ignites Devastating Office Blaze

A fire broke out in a Jakarta office building, killing at least 22 people, including a pregnant woman. Believed to be caused by a drone battery malfunction, the blaze quickly spread. First responders evacuated trapped workers as smoke engulfed the building, leading to panic and chaos.

A devastating fire tore through a Jakarta office building on Tuesday, claiming at least 22 lives. Among the victims was a pregnant woman, according to police reports. Flames ravaged the seven-story building, spreading fear and chaos among residents and workers in Central Jakarta's Kemayoran neighbourhood.

The blaze began shortly after midday, reportedly sparked by a faulty drone battery on the building's first floor. According to Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro, the fire spread rapidly upwards, necessitating the deployment of hundreds of fire personnel and 29 fire trucks to battle the inferno.

Eyewitness accounts suggest the fire's ignition was due to a short circuit or thermal failure. Rescue operations faced challenges as workers, trapped on the upper floors, struggled to breathe. Televised footage captured the tense evacuation executed via emergency ladders, as families awaited news from hospitals or the site of the tragedy.

(With inputs from agencies.)