KM LPI Burns In Paiton Waters, Probolinggo Harbor, 25 Crew Members Are Safe

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

SURABAYA - The fishing boat caught fire in the waters of the Paiton Special Terminal, Probolinggo Port, East Java. The Papua Indah Ocean ship caught fire while anchored in these waters.

"The ship is still being extinguished by the Tugboat which is anchored in the Paiton Special Terminal Area, we will report further developments later," said the Public Relations representative for the Surabaya Basarnas, Tholeb Vatelehan, confirmed, Tuesday, July 12.

There were no casualties in the incident. As many as 25 crew members (ABK) survived, and were successfully evacuated. Currently, there are four ships carrying out firefighting on the ship, namely the Tugboat (TB) Banyak, TB JKW Pelita 1, TB Intan Megah 20 and TB Bomas Potenza.

Tholeb said the incident began when KM LPI owned by PT Wogikel Papua Jaya departed from the special terminal in Paiton, Probolinggo Regency, at around 10.45 WIB to sail fishing for the Aru Sea, Arafuru Sea and the East Timor Sea.

The total number of passengers on the ill-fated ship was 25 people, consisting of 19 crew members (ABK) KM LPI and six crew members entrusted. As soon as sailing around 14:45 WIB, the ship caught fire.

"Based on the video circulating, the fire was so big that it devoured the hull of the ship until smoke rose high," he said.

The joint SAR team also intervened to help evacuate victims and extinguish the fire. The Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police, Kombes Dirmanto, said officers from the Ditpolair of the East Java Police and the Indonesian Navy also helped the victims.

"The crew of 25 people survived and are now being evacuated at the Probolinggo Fishing Port," he said.