We are saddened to learn of the tragedy at Terra Drone Indonesia. The loss of 22 lives—colleagues, innovators, and friends in our shared industry—is a heavy blow to the global drone community.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the entire Terra Drone team.

This incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the inherent risks in our field. As we await the full investigation, we stand in solidarity with those affected in Jakarta.

JAKARTA — A fire swept through an office building housing Terra Drone Indonesia in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, killing 22 people. Police suspect the blaze, which trapped workers on the upper floors of the seven-story block, was ignited by a drone battery explosion.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro confirmed the fatalities, stating that the fire began around midday on the first floor before rapidly spreading upwards.

“Based on information gathered so far, batteries from a drone caught fire, but the cause of the fire, the point of origin is still being investigated,” Condro told reporters.

The building serves as the Indonesian headquarters for the Japanese firm Terra Drone Corporation, a major provider of aerial survey services for the mining and agriculture sectors. While some employees were out for lunch at the time of the incident, many remained inside.

Emergency crews extinguished the fire by Tuesday afternoon. Recovered bodies have been transported to a police hospital for identification, a process authorities say is currently underway.

Police indicated they will be questioning both the business owner and the building owner as part of the investigation. Terra Drone Corporation issued a statement apologizing for the distress caused to the community and confirmed they are assessing the impact of the disaster on their operations.