Mutiara Berkah Ship Fire In Merak, Si Jago Merah Still Can't Be Tamed This Afternoon

The Mutiara Berkah I Passenger Motor Ship (KMP) fire still occurred at 17.00 WIB, Wednesday (6/9/2023).(ANTARA/Mansur)

The process of extinguishing the passenger motorboat (KMP) Mutiara Berkah I which caught fire at the port of Indah Kiat Port, Merak, Cilegon City, Banten, is still being carried out.

Head of the Operational Section of the Banten Basarnas Office, Heru Amir, said the red rooster burned KMP Mutiara Berkah I since 10.55 WIB, Wednesday, September 6. "We have not been able to extinguish the fire on the burning Ferry boat," he said in Merak, Wednesday, September 6.

Meanwhile, Merak residents were busy watching the ferry. The smoke was seen billowing black and rising high from the location of the fire. "We are concerned that the Ferry ship caught fire, but fortunately there were no casualties," said Nurman, a resident of Merak.

Previously, the joint SAR team carried out the evacuation process for passengers of the Mutiara Berkah I Passenger Motor Ship (KMP) which caught fire at the pier of Indah Kiat Port, Merak, Cilegon City, Banten Province, Wednesday, September 6. Evacuation using cranes.

Head of Banten Basarnas Adil Triyanto revealed a total of 159 passengers and crew members. KMP Mutiara Berkah I also contains 135 cargo trucks.

"For the process of evacuating passengers because the ship's position was high until passengers got off using cranes and all passengers were rescued," he said in Cilegon, Banten.

He also said that five of the passengers experienced shortness of breath and were rushed to the nearest hospital (RS) for treatment. And his condition is now gradually improving.

For the process of extinguishing the fire, Adil explained that it was carried out from two directions, namely through the sea side and from the mainland by deploying eight fire engines.