One person was killed while three others suffered varying degrees of injury after a passenger vessel caught fire in Sumesep Regency in East Java, Indonesia, on Friday, September 16.
The Ro-Pax ferry Sabuk Nusantara 91 was at berth and preparing to depart Masalembu Island when a blaze ignited in the starboard side of the main passenger deck at around 07:05 local time on Friday.
The crew and some responding emergency services personnel from national maritime rescue agency Basarnas and other local agencies evacuated the passengers as firefighting operations were underway.
The blaze was quickly extinguished with the aid of the ferry's onboard firefighting equipment. Tragically, however, one crewman was pronounced deceased shortly afterwards.
Another three people suffered non-life-threatening burn injuries. They were later brought to a nearby health facility to receive treatment.
An official said the incident may have been caused by a lit cigarette coming into contact with some mattresses on the passenger deck.
A representative of Sabuk Nusantara 91's operating company said that the Sumesep islands routes will be temporarily serviced by another vessel while the damaged ferry is undergoing repairs.
