Seven people including two children were killed as a ship caught fire in waters off central Indonesia’s Sulawesi province, reports The Star Online.
What happened?
Seven people including two children were killed and four others went missing as a ship caught fire in waters off central Indonesia’s Sulawesi province, head of communication for media at the national search and rescue office Yusuf Latief said.
The incident happened off Bokori Island in Konawe district after the ship left from port in Kendari.
“The incident started with a fire in the engine room. The crew of the ship tried to extinguish it but failed. The fire kept getting bigger.”
“Consequently, passengers jumped into the water,” the official said over the phone.
Rescue operations and Investigation
The fire has been extinguished by another ship. A total of 61 people survived the incident and they were rescued by local sailors, he said.
So far, the cause of the fire has not been clear and an investigation will be conducted, Yusuf said.
He added that the ship was heading to a port in Kaleroang of Marowali district in nearby Central Sulawesi province.
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Source: The Star Online
