Glodok Plaza Fire: Explosions Heard, Flames Finally Contained After Hours

Author: Dian Kencana
January 16, 2025

Aerial view of the fire at Glodok Plaza, Tamansari, Jakarta, Wednesday (15/1/2025). A total of 21 fire trucks were deployed to extinguish the blaze, which continued to burn until early Thursday (16/1). (ANTARA)

SEAToday.com, Jakarta – A massive fire engulfed Glodok Plaza in Tamansari, West Jakarta, on Wednesday night (1/15), with explosions and loud bangs heard during the incident. The fire, which started around 9:30 PM, primarily affected the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors of the building.

Farid, a firefighter on duty at the scene, suggested that the explosions might have been caused by parked cars on the 7th floor.
"It seems the big explosion earlier came from a car parked on the 7th floor," Farid told reporters on Wednesday night.

The first major explosion, occurring at 11:50 PM, startled onlookers, prompting firefighters to urge them to move away from the police-secured perimeter around the building. Following the initial blast, additional explosions and loud crashes were heard as falling debris, including shattered glass, rained down from the upper floors.

By 00:21 AM, the flames on the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors were still classified as "red," indicating active fire. Firefighters continued their efforts to extinguish the blaze.

By early Thursday morning, at around 3:00 AM, firefighters began to bring the fire under control. Using high-pressure pump units, the team managed to extinguish most of the flames on the upper floors, although thick black smoke continued to pour from the building.

According to Satriadi Gunawan, Acting Head of the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service, two main strategies were employed to combat the fire.
"From outside, we used three fire sticks and a bronco skylight unit. Meanwhile, teams equipped with breathing apparatus and full protective gear entered the building to tackle the fire from within," explained Satriadi.

A total of 27 fire trucks and 150 personnel were deployed, with additional support from the police, military (TNI), Red Cross (PMI), public order officers (Satpol PP), disaster response teams (Tagana), and Jakarta’s transportation agency.

Satriadi confirmed no reports of injuries or casualties among residents or personnel during the evacuation and firefighting efforts. Despite the damage, the collaborative response ensured that the situation was under control within hours.