22 dead in fire at Terra Drone office in Jakarta allegedly caused by drone battery malfunction

INDONESIA: A total of 22 people were confirmed dead after a fire broke out at the Terra Drone building in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (9 December).

According to the Jakarta Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the victims comprised 15 women and seven men. Another 54 people were successfully evacuated.

Authorities said some survivors were rescued from the rooftop, while many of the deceased were found on the third to fifth floors.

Preliminary investigations suggest that most victims likely died from asphyxiation due to heavy smoke inhalation.

The BPBD reported that the fire was first detected at 12.43pm and was fully extinguished at around 5.30pm local time.

The operation involved 29 units from the Fire and Rescue Department, supported by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the Health Agency’s Emergency Ambulance Service, and other emergency teams.

In an update posted on its official Instagram account, the agency confirmed that all 22 bodies had been transported to the National Police Hospital for identification.

Cause of Fire and Safety Concerns

Police investigations revealed that the fire originated on the first floor after a drone battery allegedly malfunctioned and ignited.

Staff attempted to extinguish the flames using a portable fire extinguisher but were unsuccessful, allowing thick smoke to spread rapidly through the building.

Forensic experts from the National Police’s Laboratory Centre later found that the six-storey building had only one entry-and-exit door.

They also noted that the stairwell was narrow, which hampered evacuation efforts for those trapped inside.

Investigators added that the narrow staircase would be one of the elements to undergo further testing and forensic examination.

According to BPBD estimates, the fire caused approximately Rp2 billion in losses.

Terra Drone Indonesia is part of the Japan-based Terra Drone Group, founded by Toru Tokushige in 2016. The company provides drone services across sectors such as energy, oil and gas, construction, mining, infrastructure, maritime operations and disaster response.

Governor: Safety Standards Must Be Enforced

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung expressed his deep condolences following the tragedy, saying he hoped a similar incident would never recur.

“I am truly deeply saddened. I hope this will not happen again,” he said during a visit to the site on Tuesday.

Pramono criticised the building’s lack of safety preparedness, particularly the absence of adequate evacuation routes. He said the case underscored the urgent need to enforce building safety standards more strictly.

“If there’s a six-storey building, there should be proper fire safety measures. But in a case like this, they weren’t prepared at all,” he said.

On potential violations or sanctions, Pramono said he would leave the matter entirely to the police.

Support for Victims

Pramono assured that the Jakarta Provincial Government would cover all recovery and burial costs for the victims.

“The Jakarta government is responsible for all the burials and other expenses for those who died. The government will also cover costs for those injured,” he said.

He added that he had instructed the City Parks and Forestry Agency to prepare burial sites, including the possibility of using several locations if required due to the number of victims.

“We hope this is the last time and that it won’t happen again in Jakarta,” Pramono concluded.