ID :
21501
Fri, 09/26/2008 - 22:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21501
The shortlink copeid
MV CATCHES FIRE, KILLING SEVEN
Ambon, Maluku, Sept 26 (ANTARA) - A motor vessel caught fire off the eastern Indonesian island of Ambon at 02.25 p.m. on Friday, killing seven of its passengers.
The motor vessel, KM Usaha Baru, caught fire when it arrived in Tanjung Talang waters after four hours of sailing from Tagalaya port in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon, a source at the Ambon port authority said.
The fire which was believed to have started in the vessel's engine room, prompted tens of passengers, mostly Idul Fitri holiday travellers, to jump out of the vessel to save themselves.
Most of them escaped the accident after being rescued by passing fishermen and local people.
Chief of Salahatu police resort Adj. Coms. Ony Prasetyo confirmed that at least 55 passengers and crew members were rescued by fishermen and local residents using tens of motorboats and two fishing boats.
"The vessel was probably overloaded. The vessel was too small to carry 48 people including its crew ," chief of the Ambon port's search and rescue team, Eddy Paays, said.
He said at least 41 people consisting of 25 adults and 16 children who tried to swim to shore were rescued by local people.
The dead victims were identified as Wa Eni (59), Wa Asi (15), Wa Ani (45), Wa Ida (70), Fitri (7), Firlan (4) and Rizky (4).
The motor vessel, KM Usaha Baru, caught fire when it arrived in Tanjung Talang waters after four hours of sailing from Tagalaya port in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon, a source at the Ambon port authority said.
The fire which was believed to have started in the vessel's engine room, prompted tens of passengers, mostly Idul Fitri holiday travellers, to jump out of the vessel to save themselves.
Most of them escaped the accident after being rescued by passing fishermen and local people.
Chief of Salahatu police resort Adj. Coms. Ony Prasetyo confirmed that at least 55 passengers and crew members were rescued by fishermen and local residents using tens of motorboats and two fishing boats.
"The vessel was probably overloaded. The vessel was too small to carry 48 people including its crew ," chief of the Ambon port's search and rescue team, Eddy Paays, said.
He said at least 41 people consisting of 25 adults and 16 children who tried to swim to shore were rescued by local people.
The dead victims were identified as Wa Eni (59), Wa Asi (15), Wa Ani (45), Wa Ida (70), Fitri (7), Firlan (4) and Rizky (4).
