At least 22 people have died after a massive fire tore through a seven-story office building in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, according to the Associated Press, Reuters and the BBC.
The blaze broke out in the afternoon and quickly spread through the structure, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Authorities said around 28 fire engines and more than 100 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to battle the flames.
While the exact cause is still under investigation and early details remain preliminary, central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro said officials currently believe the fire began on the first floor, where drone company Terra Drone Indonesia is located, per the outlets.
Condro said investigators’ initial information suggests that batteries from a drone may have ignited, but emphasized that the precise origin and cause of the fire are still being examined, Reuters reported. Terra Drone Co. has since issued a public apology to its community and customers, according to the news agency.
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Many workers were on their lunch break inside the building when the fire started, while others had stepped out to eat, Reuters and the AP reported.
Most of those who died were women, including a pregnant woman, Condro told the BBC. He added that the victims are believed to have succumbed primarily to smoke inhalation rather than burns.
When asked about the rising death toll, Condro said authorities intend to thoroughly search each floor of the building again, according to the AP.
He added that firefighters are still working to cool down the site and that the heavy smoke has made it unsafe to fully enter the structure.
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Footage from AP and the BBC showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the building’s windows over the surrounding neighborhood. Video also captured dramatic rescues, with employees stranded on higher floors being brought down by firefighters using aerial ladders.
Officials said at least 19 workers were rescued from the building, some with minor injuries. Police also reported that both a firefighter and a police officer at the scene experienced breathing difficulties due to the conditions.
“We are still collecting data,” Condro told the AP, adding that the current priority is identifying the victims who have been recovered.
