Search and rescue operations continue at Glodok Plaza following deadly blaze.
A tragic fire at Jakarta’s Glodok Plaza has resulted in six confirmed fatalities, with 14 people still unaccounted for. The fire, which erupted at around 9:22 PM on Wednesday, 17 January, caused significant destruction to the historic shopping mall located in Taman Sari, West Jakarta. While the blaze was extinguished by Thursday morning, firefighting crews continue with cooling operations.
As of Friday, rescue teams confirmed the deaths of six individuals, whose bodies were transported to the Police Hospital in East Jakarta for identification. The missing persons list initially included eight individuals—seven women and one man—but authorities have yet to confirm whether any of the deceased are among this group.
The fire, which started on the seventh floor of the mall in a nightclub, spread quickly to the higher levels, where electronics stores were located, leaving several people trapped. Glodok Plaza, one of Jakarta’s oldest shopping centres, became a scene of panic and chaos as the flames ravaged three upper floors.
Rescue teams, which included more than 200 personnel and 47 fire trucks, managed to save nine people using hydraulic ladders. Despite being in shock and experiencing breathing difficulties, the rescued individuals were reported to be in stable condition. However, the extensive damage, including the burning of electronics, posed significant challenges to firefighters.
Satriadi Gunawan, head of Jakarta’s Fire and Rescue Agency, stated that the fire’s large-scale impact and the combustible nature of electronic products made containment efforts more difficult. Social media videos, including those posted on TikTok, showed victims trapped inside the mall waving flashlights for help.
The authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire and working to identify the exact number of casualties.
