A lithium battery explosion sparked a deadly blaze in a Jakarta office building, killing at least 20 people, many from smoke inhalation.
JAKARTA: A fire in a seven-storey office building in central Jakarta on Tuesday killed at least 20 people.
Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro said the blaze started in the afternoon when a battery on the first floor exploded, spreading fire to the upper levels.
“As of now, 20 victims have been retrieved, consisting of five men and 15 women,” he told reporters.
He added that one of those killed was a pregnant woman.
Susatyo said most victims did not appear to have suffered burns and likely died of asphyxiation.
The bodies have been taken to a police hospital for autopsy.
Firefighters are still scouring the scene for more people possibly trapped inside the building.
“We are still collecting data, but for now, we are focusing on identifying the victims who have been found,” Susatyo said.
He added that crews were focused on cooling the building due to intense heat and thick smoke on several floors.
Deadly fires are not uncommon in Indonesia.
In 2023, at least 12 people were killed and 39 injured in an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia.
