Two Killed, Two Missing in Ship Fire in Indonesia

Thick smoke from a blaze occured during an oil spill cleanup in the waters off Balikpapan.

Jakarta, MINA – A cargo ship caught fire in waters off East Kalimantan province in central Indonesia on Saturday, leaving two people dead and two others missing, China’s Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying.

The incident occurred at about 11 am local time in Balikpapan, the provincial capital of East Kalimantan, said Muriyono, head of the operational unit of the disaster management agency (BNPB) in the province.

“Search and rescue efforts for the missing are underway now,” he told Xinhua by phone from the province.

The fire sent a column of black ash to the sky due to the leaking of fuel to the waters.

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However, the official could not elaborate further whether the ship is loaded with diesel fuel or not. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)