Trapped, 2 Crew Members Of Tugboat Who Burned In North Barito Died

Residents and company employees evacuated injured and died to Muara Teweh Hospital from the scene in Luwe Village, West Lahei District, Monday (25/3/2024) night. (ANTARA/HO-BPBD North Barito)

MUARA TEWEH - Two crew members (ABK) of the Hasyim tugboat that caught fire in Luwe Village, North Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan, died.

"The two victims died at the scene or were trapped on the ship," said Head of Emergency and Logistics at BPBD North Barito Rizali Hadi in Muara Teweh, Tuesday.

The two crew members who died were named Sahiman and Dali Rijaldi. The TB Hasyim ship caught fire on Monday (25/3) night at around 19.00 WIB, on the Barito River in Luwe Village, West Lahei District.

The information received stated that the tugboat heard an explosion, then the fire burned the ship which was being moored at the port of the coal mining company PT PADA Idi.

One of the company's employees immediately cut the mooring rope so as not to spread to another moored ship at that location.

The ship was left to be swept away in the Barito River far from residential areas, the fire was only extinguished at around 23.50 WIB assisted by local residents who used fishing boats and members of the North Barito BPBD.

Apart from the two people who became victims, there were also two crew members who were treated at Muara Teweh Hospital, namely Rijaldi and Atul Yeser, while another crew member named Awaludin is still unknown.

"Currently, the cause of the burning of the tugboat is still unknown and is still under investigation by the local police," said Rizali Hadi.

The Public Relations Officer of the Muara Teweh Hospital, Agus Redha, admitted that two of the victims who died had been taken to the Bhayangkara Palangka Raya Hospital to be identified or taken DNA.

"The two victims at 10 WIB this morning were brought by Palangka Raya to be tested for DNA, because they could not be recognized, but the victim was one Javanese and the other was Barabai, South Kalimantan," said Agus.