Police Help Handling Tanker Ship Fires In Mataram Waters: 14 Crews Selamat, Three Not Known

A number of residents witnessed the tanker fire incident of Kristin Surabaya in Ampenan waters, Mataram, NTB, Sunday (26/3/2023). (Between)

Police officers helped deal with the fire incident of the tanker Kristin Surabaya that occurred in Ampenan waters, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara, Sunday.

The Head of the Mataram City Police, Senior Commissioner of Police Mustofa, in a written statement in Mataram, Sunday evening, said that there were already police personnel with a number of ships from the NTB Police Ditpolairud who helped handle the incident.

"In this case, the NTB Regional Police Ditpolairud deployed three Baladewa 8002 units belonging to the National Police Headquarters and two type C ships," Mustofa told Antara.

In addition, the NTB Regional Police Biddokkes team also provided medical assistance to the crew (ABK) and the tanker captain.

"All crew members and ship captains who survived are now being taken to Pertamina Ampenan Depot and are being checked for health by the NTB Police Biddokkes Team. The crew and ship's captain who have been evacuated only suffered minor injuries," he said.

The number of crew members and captain who have been reported to have survived the incident is 14 people.

According to Mustofa, there are still three people who have not been evacuated. "The three crew members are named Dani Maulana, Sukirman Bagian, and Diki Abdul Azis," he said.

The crew and captain who survived the fire incident were successfully evacuated thanks to the help of fishermen. There are also those who reportedly managed to save themselves using a decree.

"The whereabouts of the three crew members are still unknown," added Mostofa.

The tanker fire incident belonging to the PT Andin Jaya Mandiri transport service company occurred on Sunday at 14:45 WITA. It is planned that the tanker carrying 5,900 kiloliters of Pertalite type fuel oil will distribute at the Pertamina Ampenan Depot.

The explosion occurred while the ship was waiting in line in Ampenan waters. At that time, as many as three crew members headed to the front of the ship to lower the anchor.

Based on reports from Ampenan coastal residents, explained Mustofa, there was an explosion that was thought to have originated from the ship until a fire was seen covered in thick smoke.

The explosion also caused the front of the tanker to catch fire.