This is the dramatic moment a fire ripped through buildings, destroying several shops in Indonesia.

Footage shows a towering inferno engulfing 17 stores, with thick smoke billowing into the air in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi.

Firefighters were seen battling the blaze as fire engines cordoned off the area on January 14, at around 5pm local time.

Local media reported that because the structures were mostly made of timber boards, the fire spread rapidly to surrounding buildings.

No one was reported injured in the incident.

The local neighbourhood head, Unrungi, recalled rushing to the scene after hearing residents screaming.

He said: 'I heard screams that there was a fire. I was approximately 100 metres away, so as soon as I left the house, I went straight to the location to focus on preventing the fire from spreading further.'

Authorities said that a witness confirmed the fire started in the middle of a row of stalls selling sandals and coconuts.

The flames spread east and west until the entire block, including restaurants, grocery stores, and motorbike repair shops, was destroyed.

Amir Yusuf, head of the Kendari City Fire Department's extinguishing division, said his team from the Poasia command post moved quickly to respond.

The department deployed seven fire engines, supported by two water cannons from the Kendari City Police.

However, firefighters faced difficulties due to large crowds of residents who gathered at the scene and blocked the main access road.

Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.