A fire at the Terra Drone building in Cempaka Baru, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, killed 22 people on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. One of the victims was a pregnant woman.
“One of the victims was a pregnant woman,” Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo said in Jakarta on Tuesday (9 December 2025), as quoted from Detiknews.
Susatyo said the death toll was based on data recorded at 4:15 p.m. WIB. The victims consisted of seven men and 15 women.
“So currently, the focus of joint personnel, especially the fire department, is still to penetrate the sixth floor. The fourth and fifth floors have been successfully reached. According to the fire department, the situation on the sixth floor is quite difficult,” he said.
Officials said the blaze is suspected to have started from lithium batteries stored on the ground floor, although investigations continue.
“It is still under investigation. Because it is a lithium battery, it is located on the ground, so it may need to be re-evaluated,” said Bayu Megantara, Head of the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat), in Central Jakarta.
He explained that employees attempted to extinguish the initial flames using five portable fire extinguishers (APAR), but the fire grew and the smoke thickened.
@channelnewsasia At least 20 people were killed when a building in Jakarta caught fire Tuesday (Dec 9), with more still trapped inside. Videos taken by onlookers showed people being evacuated from the building on long ladders. Authorities said the fire broke out at around 12.50pm local time and a pregnant woman was among the fatalities. The 7-storey building is the office of Terra Drone Indonesia, which provides drones for aerial survey activities with clients in the mining and agriculture sectors. #indonesia #indonesianews ♬ original sound – CNA
Police Investigate Lithium Battery Suspicions After Fatal Kemayoran Office Fire
Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo Condro stated that the fire was initially believed to have come from a drone battery.
“Based on the previous information, it is currently only due to a battery fire, a drone battery. However, the forensic laboratory team is still working on the cause of the fire,” he said.
He added that the police would examine whether negligence played a role and would question witnesses, including the business and building owners.
Susatyo confirmed that the fire began on the first floor.
“Based on witness statements, the initial source was on the first floor. The fire could not be extinguished despite attempts to use several fire extinguishers,” he said. The smoke then spread to the upper floors, where many of the victims were found.
A security guard, Rian, reported hearing an explosion before the fire became visible. “It was loud,” he said at the scene. He recalled seeing the fire spread from cardboard boxes and other items on the first floor.
“It caught fire with cardboard boxes, right? That is how the fire started, and there was a lot of smoke,” he said.
The victims included seven men and 15 women. Their bodies were taken to the Kramat Jati National Police Hospital for identification.
Evacuation Difficulties and Survivor Accounts
The National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Puslabfor) identified structural issues at the site following a crime scene investigation.
Senior Commissioner Romylus Tamtelahitu said the building had only one entrance and exit door.
“As you can see, since this afternoon or evening, there has only been one entrance and exit door,” he told reporters.
He said investigators would examine the staircase, which is suspected to be narrow and may have slowed evacuation.
“Indeed, that is one of the instruments that we will later test and conduct a forensic examination,” he said.
According to Susatyo, survivors escaped through the rooftop. He said those who managed to climb to the roof crossed to a neighbouring building.
Many victims were found on the third to fifth floors, and initial findings indicate they may have died from smoke inhalation.
A survivor story
A survivor’s account, reported by Kompas.com, described the chaos inside the building. SA, a 20-year-old Human Resources Development staff member, survived because she moved downstairs soon after the explosion.
Her mother, Dea Anjani, said SA contacted her during the fire. Dea said, “My daughter cried when she saw me. She said, ‘I’m safe, Mum, I’m safe.’”
SA told her mother she had been on the third floor with colleagues who had just finished lunch when they heard the explosion. According to Dea, SA was the only employee on that floor who managed to escape.
“My daughter told me that this morning she was still chatting with his boss, still with her friends at lunch. Then suddenly they were dead,” Dea said.
She added that one colleague called SA while trapped upstairs. “Her friend said, ‘I can’t take it anymore, help me, help me,’ that’s what my daughter said,” she recalled.
Police and forensic teams continue to examine the cause of the fire, the building’s safety compliance, and the evacuation conditions.
