Jewel Topsfield and Amilia Rosa, Jakarta – More than 40 people were killed after a fire ripped through a fireworks factory in a satellite city of Jakarta with bodies incinerated as they tried to escape from the back of the building.
"We found bodies burned down to skeletons, some charred, some partially charred," Agus Margono, the head of operational control for Tangerang firefighters told Fairfax Media.
It is expected the death toll will be even higher than the 41 bodies uncovered so far with more victims likely to be found in the ash and rubble.
Mr Agus said bodies had been found banked against the back wall of the factory. "It seems fire was blocking the exit, so they tried to break down the back wall to escape. But it was a double wall and they couldn't get out."
The fire started about 9am at the factory in Tangerang, about 25 kilometres west of Jakarta. The cause of the horrific blaze was still being investigated.
"Because it was a fireworks factory, there were likely explosions from the materials," Mr Agus said. He said it was likely some people died from smoke inhalation.
The blaze was extinguished about 1pm local time by nine fire trucks. Thirty people were rushed to hospital suffering burns to 60 to 80 per cent of their bodies.
"According to the survivors, there were dozens of workers at the time of the fire," Mr Agus said. "The cause of the fire is still being investigated."