Cause of Terra Drone Jakarta Fire: Falling Pile of Damaged Batteries

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Jakarta Police revealed the results of the investigation into the fire at the Terra Drone building in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. The fire incident, which claimed the lives of 22 people, occurred on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

The Central Jakarta Police Chief, Commissioner General Susatyo Purnomo Condro, stated that the fire was triggered by four stacks of defective batteries that suddenly fell. "According to witness statements, sparks appeared after the batteries fell," said Susatyo on Friday, December 12, 2025.

The sparks from the fallen batteries immediately spread to the other batteries in the warehouse. "As a result, the entire first floor was engulfed in flames," Susatyo stated in a press conference.

According to Susatyo, it was revealed that the company stored these batteries in a warehouse on the first floor. Damaged and usable batteries were stacked together in six to seven piles.

Susatyo revealed that the batteries in the warehouse were lithium polymer (Li-Po), which are commonly used in unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.

The police have designated the President Director of PT Terra Drone Indonesia, Michael Wishnu Wardana, as a suspect. "There has been negligence," Susatyo told reporters.

The drone company's CEO is charged under Articles 187, 188, and 359 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. According to the regulations, Wishnu may face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The fire at the Terra Drone building was reported by residents on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at around 12:43 PM Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The fire was extinguished at 3:00 PM WIB. The evacuation process lasted until 5:00 PM.

The death toll from the Terra Drone building fire reached 22 people, consisting of 15 women and 7 men. The bodies were identified by forensic doctors at Kramat Jati Hospital, East Jakarta.