Two Cargo Ships Destination For North Maluku Caught Fire At The Kalimas People's Port, Surabaya

JAKARTA - Two phinisi cargo ships caught fire while docking at the Kalimas People's Port in Surabaya, East Java, early Sunday, the Rukun Abadi Motor Sailing Ship (KLM) and the KLM Duta Kencana.

"There were no casualties in this incident," said General Manager of Kalimas, Passenger Terminal and Roro of PT Pelindo Sub-Regional Java, Dhany Rachmat Agustian to reporters at the scene, Sunday, July 17.

Based on statements from a number of witnesses in the field, the fire started at around 02.51 WIB, allegedly from the crew room of the KLM Rukun Abadi crew, then spread to KLM Duta Kencana.

The two ships made of wood are planned to make general cargo, which mostly contains grocery items or basic necessities.

KLM Rukun Abadi was planned to go to North Maluku, while KLM Duta Kencana, which when it caught fire, was half filled with Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

Dhany explained that there were four crew members of KLM Rukun Abadi, then KLM Duta Kencana as many as 12 people, all of whom managed to survive.

"Thankfully there were no casualties. Only, KLM Duta Kencana was already half loaded," he said, quoted from ANTARA.

"The cause of certainty also cannot be obtained because it requires an examination from the authorities," added Dhany Rachmat.

Meanwhile, Head of the Surabaya City Fire Department, Dedi Irianto, told reporters that a total of 15 fire engines were deployed, 12 each from the City Government, and three other units belonging to PT Pelindo.

"By the time the officers arrived at the location of the two axes, they were already on fire. This means that there has been a propagation of the fire from where it was originally burning. At 05.14 WIB, we declared the main fire extinguished, then weeded it," he said.

Regarding the cause of the incident, his party cannot speculate and cannot confirm because it will be investigated by the authorized team.