Two Crew Members Were Injured In The Ship Fire In Ambon

The fire of a kerosene carrier, KM Sayang Salsabila, in the waters near the Speedboat Momoking Port, Tulehu Village, Salahutu District, Central Maluku Regency, Thursday (20/10), caused two crew members to suffer minor burns.

"There were no casualties in this disaster, but two crew members of KM Sayang Salsabila, reportedly named La Samina and Arobi, suffered minor burns to their hands and feet," said Head of Public Relations of Ambon Island Police Ipda Moyo Utomo in Ambon, Friday, October 21.

The flames scorched the ship and all its contents, including about 35 tons of kerosene. KM Sayang Salsabila from Waiselan Hamlet, Kairatu District, West Seram Regency, caught fire on Thursday night at around 23:00 WIT. The ship was headed by Samsudin (50).

Meanwhile, officers at the Salahutu Police carried out security at the scene and asked for information from the captain and crew members.

Witness Arobi (30) explained that initially he and Samsudin, La Samina, and Malik were in the room when the ship's engine and lights went out. Then, Arobi and Malik climbed onto the ship's deck to turn on the engine. However, suddenly sparks appeared from the engine carburetor and turned on.

"Witness together with Malik tried to turn off the flames by wetting the cloth and covering the fire, but the fire was not extinguished so the flames grew bigger and spread to the front deck which contained kerosene," explained Moyo.

Samsudin and the crew then tried to cut the moorings so they could stay away from the location of the dock and the flames did not spread to other ships.