Massive fire in a 7-storey building kills 20 in Indonesia's Jakarta

A devastating fire erupts through a seven-storey office building in Indonesia's bustling capital Jakarta today afternoon claiming the lives of at least 20 people and sending shockwaves through Indonesia's capital. The blaze started on the first floor of the Terra Drone Indonesia headquarters building – a unit of the Japanese firm specializing in aerial surveys for industries from mining to farming. The company is the Indonesian unit of Japanese drone firm Terra Drone Corporation according to the company's website – which quickly raced upward, trapping workers inside during their lunch break.

Dozens of firefighters battling thick smoke and flames while using ladders to rescue those on higher floors; rescuers carrying body bags out as colleagues escaped through windows. As per reports, the flames is under control now, but the grim toll mounted as teams sifted through the charred ruins for more victims. Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro confirmed the fire's rapid spread and noted that some employees had already left for the day, sparing them from the worst.

The building, a hub for tech-savvy drone operations, turned into a scene of chaos with screams echoing amid the roar of sirens, underscoring the dangers of urban high-rises in a city prone to such hazards. Authorities already launches a probe into the fire's cause, vowing stricter safety checks on commercial spaces. This tragedy adds to Indonesia's string of fiery disasters, reminding leaders and residents alike of the urgent need for better fireproofing and escape plans in crowded workplaces.