Three Found-Dead Person Are Confirmed As Victims Of The Exploded Ship In Samarinda

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Samarinda Police, East Kalimantan stated that three victims died and one person was lightly injured in the tanker explosion at the PT. Barokah Perkasa shipyard, Atas Island, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, last Thursday, February 11.

The Head of Public Relations of the Samarinda Police, Commissioner Adjutant Annisa Prastiwi, explained that the three people died, namely Suwardi (37), Gunawi (52), and Tumiran Murcholis (58).

"The bodies of the three victims have been found by the joint SAR team in the waters of the Mahakam River and the last victim was found, namely Tumiran on Sunday afternoon in the waters of the Tembolo Tambora River, Muara Pantau Village, Kukar (Kutai Kartanegara)," said Annisa in Samarinda, reported by Antara, Sunday, February 14th.

She explained that the chronology of the incident occurred, namely on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at around 14.30 Central Indonesia Time, one barge unit at the PT. Barokah Perkasa, Atas Island, Sambutan, Samarinda caught fire and exploded.

The burning barge was the Oil Bas GPE (Gemilang Perkasa Energi) barge owned by PT. Barokah Perkasa Samarinda.

He explained that based on witness testimony, namely Prasetya Abdillah at that time the barge was in a stand-by position after boarding the dock. Prasetya's position is approximately 500 meters from the scene.

"Not long afterward, there was an explosion from the OB Gemilang Perkasa Energy ship. The witness immediately turned on the hydrant and during the blackout process, there were six explosions. At the time of the incident, two crew members were on board," explained Anisa, quoting witness testimony.

Another witness, Aris explained that at the time of the incident the witness was about 200 meters from the TKP, at 14:45 he heard an explosion from the OB GPE ship and when the incident occurred he knew that there were two crew members, namely Ilyas and Ilham.

"During the explosion, Ilham went ashore to buy cigarettes, while Ilyas jumped into the river and saved himself. During the blackout process, there were six explosions," she said.

Meanwhile, Elias explained that at the time of the incident he was with three of his friends on the ship, at the time of the first explosion the three of his friends escaped by jumping into the water.

"Thanks to the alertness of the employees, the residents were assisted by 7 units of Joint Disdamkar and PMK Private Fire Truck, one team of Samarinda City Police personnel. At the time of the incident, the fire was extinguished at around 16.30 Central Indonesia Time, the situation was safe and conducive," she explained.

From this incident, it is known that three victims died and one light wound in the leg and the material loss can not be estimated for a while.

She said that currently the case is still being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Samarinda Police and if there is an element of negligence in eating, law enforcement will be carried out.

Previously, representatives of the PT. Barokah Perkasa company denied that any of their workers were victims of the incident.

Corporate management of PT. Barokah Perkasa, Khairuddin said that there were no reports of casualties, especially from PT. Barokah Perkasa employees after the incident occurred.

Regarding the discovery of a corpse floating in the Mahakam River by the SAR team, Kharuddin said that before the incident the ship caught fire there had been reports of residents missing in the waters of the Mahakam River near the location where the boat caught fire.

"That's why we can't confirm whether the drowning victim was the victim of our burning ship or some other incident. We fully hand over the investigation of this incident to the police," said Khairuddin.