Nine Victims Found After Jakarta Mall Fire
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Synopsis
Rescuers have located the remains of victims from the Jakarta shopping mall fire, increasing the death toll to nine. The tragedy occurred at Glodok Plaza, sparking an investigation into safety standards and fire origin.
Key Takeaways
- Nine fatalities confirmed from the Jakarta mall fire.
- Body found in karaoke room on the eighth floor.
- Fire started on the seventh and eighth floors.
- Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
- Review of safety standards at Glodok Plaza announced.
Jakarta, Jan 21 (NationPress) On Tuesday, rescuers recovered the body of a victim who perished in a shopping mall fire in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. This incident has raised the total fatalities to nine, as reported by the city's disaster mitigation agency.
The remains were found around 2 pm local time in a karaoke room located on the eighth floor after a thorough six-day search. The victim's body has been transferred to the police hospital for identification, along with the other deceased, according to Mohamad Yohan, spokesperson for the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency.
The fire erupted at Glodok Plaza on the evening of the previous Wednesday in the crowded Tamansari sub-district, where numerous shoppers were present. It is believed that the blaze started on the seventh and eighth floors and was completely extinguished by Friday.
In response to this tragedy, the city administration has announced plans to review the safety standards of Glodok Plaza, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On Friday, five victims were also evacuated from the same karaoke room on the eighth floor.
Syarifudin, chief of the West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency, informed reporters that search operations faced challenges due to numerous partitions and expansive areas within the shopping mall.
He mentioned, 'The area was vast, and the roof collapsed, obstructing access. Room dividers and cables further complicated search efforts.'
Initially, it was reported that seven individuals were unaccounted for following the fire.
The city's fire department had deployed over 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters to tackle the blaze.
Rescue teams were dispatched to comb through the seventh and eighth floors, which were believed to be the last known locations of the missing individuals, particularly in the entertainment sectors where the fire likely started.
Authorities have indicated that identifying the victims will take several days, and an investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.
