Jakarta, Dec. 9 -- A fire in a shophouse in Cempaka Baru, Kemayoran Sub-district, Central Jakarta, has killed at least 20 people, according to the local police.

"Some 20 bodies of shophouse fire victims have been evacuated by officers who inspected the area," Central Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo Condro stated here on Tuesday.

The retrieved bodies were transported to Kramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta for identification purposes, he said, adding that on-site officers continue sweeping the area for more victims.

He noted that most of the 20 victims, comprising 15 females and five males, were staff members at the burned shophouses.

According to the police chief, rescue officers so far were only able t...