A heavy fire ripped through the office of Terra Drone Indonesia in Central Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon. Flames shot up from the ground floor and quickly spread five stories up, filling stairwells and workspaces with thick black smoke. In no time, panic broke out. Employees scrambled for exits. Rescue teams arrived, but by then the fire had already turned the building into a deadly trap.
Police now confirm at least 17 people have died. Survivors rushed out, terrified, shocked, and coughing, while emergency crews raced to evacuate trapped workers and clear dense smoke.
What Triggered the Blaze: Drone Battery Fails on First Floor
According to authorities, the fire began on the first floor, inside a warehouse-style storage area. Investigators suspect a malfunctioning drone battery ignited, causing an initial flame that spread faster than people could react.
A police official described the sequence, “There was a battery on the first floor that caught fire… the burning battery spread, because the first floor is one of the warehouses.” The flames then shot upward, reaching as high as the 6th floor, making escape nearly impossible for many.
Casualties and Cause of Death: Smoke, Not Burns
Nearly all those who died didn’t die from burns. Officials say smoke inhalation and asphyxiation appear to be the main cause. Victims were found on several floors, apparently unable to escape the rising toxic smoke and scorching heat.
Rescue teams evacuated the bodies; most were taken to the police hospital for identification. Rescue workers noted that many bodies were recovered beyond the ground floor, a grim sign of how far the smoke and fire had spread.
Panic, Chaos, and a Rapid Rescue Operation
When the fire started, the building was active, and employees, support staff, and maintenance crews were inside. The sudden blaze caused chaos. People ran for staircases, some used emergency ropes, others shouted for help as smoke filled corridors. Firefighters, more than 100 in number, rushed in with multiple fire engines.
From outside, thick black smoke poured into the sky, alarming nearby residents and workers in surrounding buildings. Many evacuated spontaneously, fearing the fire would spread. While firefighters worked to control the blaze, they also carried out evacuation and rescue missions, floor by floor.
All About Terra Drone
Terra Drone is a company that supplies drones for aerial survey operations, working across sectors like mining and agriculture. Their office building on Jalan Letjen Suprapto, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, was a multi-storey setup combining offices, storage, and warehouse space.
That mix of offices and storage, especially with battery packs in a warehouse area, made the location vulnerable. The tragedy shines a harsh spotlight on safety compliance, fire norms, and handling of hazardous materials in workplaces that combine storage and offices under one roof.
