Fire At Terra Kemayoran Building Due To Battery Drone Exploding

Terra Drone Office In Kemayoran Burns, 15 Employees Trapped In Fire/ Photo: IST

A massive fire that was allegedly triggered by a thermal failure in a drone battery at the Terra Drone unmanned aircraft (drone) sales building on Jalan Letjen Suprapto, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, December 9 afternoon, killed at least 8 people. The victims were found charred in the seven-story building.

From VOI's observation, Central Jakarta Gulkarmat Sub-dept. officers continued to evacuate body bags from inside the building area. The evacuation process took place carefully considering the condition of the room which was filled with debris and burned materials.

"Many (victims died). Not finished yet, they are still evacuating," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Central Jakarta Metro Police, AKBP Roby Heri Saputra to VOI, Tuesday afternoon.

As of the afternoon, the exact number of victims who died could not be ascertained because the entire floor sweeping process was still being carried out. However, field information stated that at least 8 victims were found dead.

One of the employees, Dimitri, said that the cause of the fire was thought to have originated from a drone battery that had a thermal runaway that triggered an explosion before the fire spread rapidly into various rooms.

"The allegation of a thermal failure in a drone battery that triggered an explosion and fire," he said.

The fire was previously seen burning the seven-story building with thick black smoke rising high and causing panic among local residents. Initial information stated that 15 employees had been trapped on the top floor.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Central Jakarta Gulkarmat officers were still struggling to carry out further evacuations and search for the remaining victims in the buildings affected by the fire.