14 Dead in Passenger Ship Fire Carrying Over 240 People in Indonesia
Among Passengers Were Newborns... Some Passengers Wearing Life Jackets in the Sea
Local Media Raises Suspicion of Over 300 People on a Vessel with a 250-Person Capacity
On the 24th (local time), passengers who jumped into the sea to escape a ferry fire in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, are waiting to be rescued. Photo by Yonhap News
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A passenger ferry carrying about 240 people caught fire off the southeastern coast of Indonesia, resulting in 14 deaths.
According to local media including CNN Indonesia on the 25th (local time), a fire broke out on the KM Express Kantika 77 ferry heading from Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara Province to nearby Alor Island's Kalabahi the previous afternoon. When the fire broke out on the ship, Indonesian authorities dispatched three rescue vessels to carry out rescue operations. Local fishermen in the nearby area also joined the rescue efforts. Among the passengers were infants, and some passengers jumped into the sea wearing life jackets.
Local police stated that there were 230 passengers and 10 crew members on board the ferry. Through rescue operations, a total of 226 people were rescued, but 14 died. The injured were reportedly transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The police further explained that the fire started on the top deck of the ferry and that they are investigating the identities of the deceased and the cause of the fire.
However, local media raised suspicions, contrary to the police announcement, stating that more than 300 people were on board the ferry, which has a capacity of 250, and that the ship was overloaded due to excess passengers, causing the fire and delaying rescue operations.
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Indonesia, made up of about 17,000 islands, relies heavily on various vessels as major means of transportation. As a result, maritime accidents such as capsizing in bad weather frequently occur. Additionally, aging ships and lax safety standards can lead to major accidents. In mid-July, the KM Kahaya Sarapaho ferry carrying 77 people sank while navigating through bad weather and high waves. Of the 77 passengers, only 64 swam to shore to survive. In 2018, a ferry carrying about 200 people sank in a volcanic crater lake in North Sumatra Province, resulting in 167 deaths.
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