Khaberni - The Chief of Central Jakarta Police, Susatio Bornomo Kondro, said on Tuesday that a fire had broken out in a 7-story building in the Indonesian capital, and that the death of 20 people has been confirmed.
He added to reporters that "the fire has been extinguished, and efforts are ongoing to find more potential victims inside the building."
He continued, saying the fire started on the first floor around midday, then spread to the upper floors. The building houses the office of Terra Drone Indonesia, which provides drones for aerial surveying activities for clients in the mining and agriculture sectors.
According to the company's website, it represents the Indonesian unit of the Japanese drone company Terra Drone Corporation.
Kondro said that "some employees were having lunch in the building at that time, while others had left the premises." He added that the death toll has reached 20 people so far. Kondro added, "At this time, we are still focused on evacuating the victims."
Footage broadcasted by Kompas TV showed dozens of firefighters attempting to evacuate individuals inside, some of whom were carrying body bags.
Some workers were seen trying to escape from the upper floors of the building using ladders. Neither company has yet responded to email requests for comment.
