YOGYAKARTA - The alleged cause of the ferry fire in Merak, Banten, is being investigated by the police. The KMP Mutiara Berkah I ship carrying hundreds of people emitted black smoke when it was about to release clothing from the Kiat Indah Harbor pier. As a result of the unfortunate tragedy, a number of people had to receive treatment at the hospital.
The ship, which was about to drive from Indah Kiat Harbor to Panjang Harbor in Lampung, caught fire at around 10.50 WIB. Marine Colonel (P) Dedi Komarudin, Commander of Lanal Banten, revealed that 135 trucks were inside the ship's deck as the fire spread.
The Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the Banten Police immediately moved quickly to reveal the cause of the fire on the KMP Mutiara Berkah I ferry belonging to PT. ALP. The spark that allegedly came from the vehicle parking lot deck on the ship.
Marine Colonel (P) Dedi Komarudin Dedi Komarudin said that the fire that appeared and burned the ship in Merak was thought to have come from the vehicle parking lot deck.
"If you look at the hotspots, they come from the upper deck, where the trucks are parked, or the position of the parking lot deck where there is a truck. However, it is not certain where the fire came from," said Dedi Komarudin to reporters, on Wednesday (9/9/2023).
Dedi also revealed that 40 to 40 percent of the ship's condition caught fire was on the parking lot of the vehicle.
"The condition (fire) is at the stern to the center, then from the upper deck of the truck vehicle (parked) to the top. 40-50 percent of the ship burned," said Dedi.
Dedi also said that his party was moving quickly to anticipate the flames so as not to spread to vital national objects, namely the LPG tank belonging to PT Pertamina Tanjung Sekong, Merak.
The ferry owned by PT ALP does not carry passengers, but carries crew or truck drivers and crew members (ABK). The ship operates carrying logistics vehicles such as cargo trucks for basic goods, vehicles, and others.
Dedi Komarudin revealed that the evacuation team managed to save as many as 159 people who were truck drivers and crew members. During the blackout process, loading and unloading activities at Indah Kiat Port were temporarily suspended.
Dedi Komarudin said there were no fatalities in the ill-fated incident in Merak. Everyone on the ship has been evacuated and 5 people have been taken to the hospital due to shortness of breath. The five victims were immediately rushed in an ambulance at Krakatau Medika Cilegon Hospital to get further treatment.
"There were no (victims) for passengers as I said earlier, all 159 people had been evacuated, then 5 were referred to the hospital because they experienced shortness of breath," said Dedi.
Such is the review of the alleged cause of the ferry fire in Merak, Banten. Until now, the exact cause that triggered the fire is still under investigation by the police.
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