JAKARTA (XINHUA) – Five bodies were evacuated yesterday from a fire that broke out at a shopping mall in the western part of Jakarta on Wednesday evening, as rescuers intensified search efforts for other missing persons.
“Five bodies were found on the eighth floor, inside a karaoke room. All victims were unable to be identified,” West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency chief Syarifudin told reporters, adding that they were already transferred to a police hospital for identification through DNA analysis.
He also confirmed that the number of missing persons has increased from eight to 14 as more people reported their missing relatives to authorities.
Syarifudin said that search efforts were hampered by many partitions and large areas of the shopping mall.
The area was very large, and the roof collapsed, making the area closed. Room partitions and cables made it difficult for search efforts, he said.
The blaze at Glodok Plaza occurred at around 9.20pm local time in the densely populated area of Tamansari sub-district. Many visitors were reportedly in the mall at the time of the fire.
