7 killed in riverboat fire

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: At least seven people were killed and four others are missing after a boat caught fire and exploded on a river in the province, Antara reported on Monday.

The boat, Bina Bersama, was carrying 122 passengers when it exploded on Friday night off Kalumpang village on Kapuas River in Central Kalimantan, the news agency said.

The boat was on a regularly scheduled voyage between Kuala Kapuas, the capital of Kapuas regency, and remote areas in Central Kalimantan.

Among the dead were two children aged three years and 10 years and a crewman.

It quoted skipper Hatta as saying the fire was caused by fuel spilled on the engine when a crewman was refueling a generator.

The 111 survivors escaped after the skipper steered it to a riverbank before it exploded.

A search is underway for the missing. (byg)