Indonesian stock exchange floor collapses

Dozens of people were seen running in a chaotic evacuation from the Indonesian stock exchange today after a floor collapsed into the lobby.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange lobby was strewn with debris and people were being helped out of the building while others lay on the grass or steps outside the tower.

Some 15 ambulances were sent to take victims to hospitals from the stock exchange, which was being visited by hundreds of students at the time. 

Pictures showed how the stock exchange floor collapsed into the building’s lobby today

Jakarta police said hundreds of students were visiting the stock exchange at the time

Ambulances arrived after a floor collapsed at the Indonesian Stock Exchange building today

It was not immediately clear what part of the building collapsed but the structure may have been a balcony or walkway based on TV images.

There was no immediate explanation for the collapse. Footage showed several people lying on the ground or being carrying outside the building.

Jakarta police said there were no reports of deaths. A spokesman told Metro TV: ‘We are still investigating the cause, but for now our priorities are the casualties.’

TV news footage showed people panicking and screaming as officials tried to evacuate the area amid piles of debris.

A reporter from Metro TV, who was in the building to cover the stock market, said the incident happened shortly after noon local time (5am UK time). 

Injured people are treated outside the Indonesian Stock Exchange building after the incident

An injured person is seen inside an ambulance following the structural collapse today

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (file picture) is located in the centre of Jakarta

‘There was a loud banging so people who were inside immediately ran outside of the building,’ said journalist Marlia Zein.

The structure appeared to be an internal balcony or mezzanine floor. It collapsed on to the ground level of the complex’s second tower.

An Indonesian Stock Exchange spokesman told Bloomberg confirmed that it had not been an explosion.

The Indonesia Stock Exchange is located in the centre of Jakarta, and the local office of the World Bank is also housed on the 12th floor of the complex.