Jakarta. A fire that engulfed the office of Terra Drone Indonesia at midday Tuesday claimed the lives of 22 people, including a pregnant woman, police confirmed. The building houses the Indonesian branch of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo Condro said initial findings indicate that most victims died from suffocation rather than burns.

“This conclusion comes from early identification by the fire department and police teams at the scene,” Susatyo said. He added that a full forensic examination is still underway to determine the exact cause of death.

Victims were discovered on the third, fourth, and fifth floors of the building. Police did not release details on the number of survivors but confirmed that several people managed to escape.

“Those who survived used the emergency route, then reached the rooftop and crossed over to the neighboring building,” Susatyo said.

Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Structural Risks
Bodies recovered from the site have been sent to the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati for forensic identification, including matching antemortem data provided by families. Police said the process will be handled carefully to ensure accuracy before releasing names to the public.

Firefighters continued efforts throughout the afternoon to access heavily damaged sections of the building. Residents on the fourth and fifth floors were evacuated, but teams faced major obstacles reaching the sixth floor.

“Our current focus with the fire department is opening access to the sixth floor,” Susatyo noted, warning that weakened building structures pose ongoing risks.

Authorities are still investigating the source of the blaze.

Located in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, Terra Drone Indonesia supplies Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for industrial use and provides training and consultation services for drone-based operations.

The company was previously known as Aero Geosurvey Indonesia, a provider of aerial surveys for the construction and mining sectors. In 2019, it received funding from Japan’s Terra Drone Corporation and became its Indonesian subsidiary.