A fire ripped through a seven-storey office building in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people, international news agency Reuters reported, citing local police.

Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as flames rapidly spread through the structure, triggering panic among nearby residents and office workers in the busy Central Jakarta neighbourhood.

The fire has been extinguished, and efforts are underway to search for more possible victims inside the building, Central Jakarta police chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro told reporters.

He said the blaze began on the first floor around midday and quickly spread to the upper levels. Some employees were inside having lunch, while others had stepped out of the office when the fire broke out.

By Tuesday afternoon, the d

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