A devastating fire ripped through a seven-story office building in Central Jakarta on Tuesday morning, claiming at least 17 lives and leaving rescue teams scrambling amid fears that several workers remain trapped inside the charred structure.

The blaze erupted on the first floor of the building housing Terra Drone Indonesia, a company specialising in aerial surveying for mining and agriculture sectors. According to Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo Condro, the fire originated from a lithium-ion battery stored in a warehouse area, initially extinguished by employees before reigniting ferociously and spreading uncontrollable flames and thick toxic smoke throughout the premises.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as dense black smoke poured from the building, forcing hundreds of office workers in adjacent towers to evacuate while terrified residents nearby watched helplessly. Firefighters battled for hours before declaring the flames extinguished, but thick plumes continued to rise as emergency crews began the grim task of searching floor by floor for survivors and recovering bodies.

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All 17 confirmed victims were recovered from upper floors, with most casualties believed to have succumbed to smoke inhalation after being trapped by the rapidly spreading inferno. The deceased have been transferred to Kramat Jati Police Hospital for identification and post-mortem examination, while authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising as search operations continue late into the evening.

Indonesian authorities have launched an urgent investigation into the incident, focusing on safety compliance and storage protocols for high-risk lithium batteries in commercial buildings. The tragedy has reignited national concern over fire safety standards in Jakarta’s ageing office infrastructure, with rescue officials warning that the final casualty figure may increase once the entire building is declared structurally safe for complete evacuation.

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