A fire ripped through a seven-storey office building in central Jakarta on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people, including a pregnant woman, authorities said. 

According to the city police, the blaze erupted around midday at the office of Terra Drone Indonesia, a company that provides industrial drone services. The fire reportedly began when a drone battery exploded on the ground floor and subsequently spread upward. 

Firefighters deployed 29 fire trucks and more than 100 personnel to battle the inferno. The blaze was brought under control around 5:05 p.m. local time — approximately three hours after first being reported. 

Many of those who died were female workers; officials said most appear to have succumbed to smoke inhalation rather than burns. 

In total, 22 bodies — seven men and fifteen women — were recovered and transferred to a police hospital in East Jakarta for identification. 

Meanwhile, 19 people reportedly survived, though some remain in critical condition. 

Emergency responders described harrowing scenes as thick black smoke engulfed upper floors, trapping staff who were on their lunch break. Dramatic footage from the site showed firefighters using aerial ladders to rescue workers — many of whom were lowered one by one from the sixth floor. 

Local authorities have launched a full investigation into the blaze. Officials are questioning the building owner, the company’s management and several witnesses in order to determine whether there was any negligence or safety code violation. 

Jakarta’s governor has called for improved workplace safety standards after raising concerns about whether the building had adequate emergency exits for workers trapped inside. 

The tragedy has shocked the city and drawn renewed attention to fire safety and regulations for buildings — especially those housing companies dealing with potentially hazardous materials such as lithium-ion drone batteries. (ILKHA)