Jakarta Office Tower Fire Claims 22 Lives in Suspected Battery Blast

A devastating fire broke out in a seven-storey office building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people. The blaze, suspected to have been ignited by a battery explosion on the first floor, rapidly spread through the upper levels of the building before firefighters managed to control it. Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro reported that the death toll had risen from an initial count of 17 and warned that it could climb further as emergency crews continue searching the wreckage. Most of the victims were women, including a pregnant woman. Authorities believe the explosion triggered a fire that raced upward through the building, which housed an agricultural drone services company. Many victims are thought to have died from asphyxiation rather than burns. Over 100 firefighters and 29 fire trucks were dispatched to battle the blaze, which sent thick smoke billowing across the commercial district. The charred facade with shattered windows and the sight of crews carrying out body bags underscored the tragedy.