Drone footage shows towering flames engulfing the factory as thick smoke rises across the area. Firefighters are seen directing water hoses at the blaze while residents gather nearby.

The fire is believed to have started shortly after midnight at the factory on Jalan Pondok Kelapa Selatan.

"Suddenly, there was what sounded like an explosion, and then the fire suddenly grew bigger," recalled a local. "The area behind it (the factory) is densely populated, so residents immediately tried to evacuate themselves and save their valuables."

A local security officer also recalled hearing an explosion as the fire spread.

"I heard that it may have started from burning rubbish. Not long after that, the fire grew bigger, and there was a sound of an explosion. It wasn’t very loud, just a small one," the officer said.

Around 100 personnel and 22 fire department units were deployed to fight the blaze and prevent it from spreading through the densely populated area, according to local media .

Firefighters reportedly struggled to find nearby water supplies. Narrow access routes through the surrounding neighbourhood also made it difficult for crews to reach the fire.

The firefighting operation was still underway at the time of publication. Authorities had yet to determine the cause of the fire or confirm whether anyone had been killed or injured.

"Earlier, at around 10 am, I was looking from the street, and I saw what looked like orange flames on the top floor of this building," one resident said.

Another witness described seeing the fire intensify as debris began falling.

"What I saw was that the fire had started to die down; it suddenly grew larger from inside this side of the building. Some debris fell from above. I think the fire may have weakened the structure, causing some of the debris to fall," the resident said.

The fire spread from the 11th to the 16th floors, according to Jakarta authorities. Strong winds complicated firefighting efforts and caused the flames to flare up again.

A renovation worker trapped on the 15th floor was rescued and taken to Tarakan Regional General Hospital for treatment. No deaths were reported.

Jakarta's fire and rescue service initially deployed 37 fire units and 185 personnel, supported by three Bronto Skylift aerial vehicles. A later update increased the response to 40 units and 200 personnel.

The fire was brought under control after roughly four hours of firefighting. Crews then carried out cooling operations and inspections for remaining hotspots.