Aceh ferry catches fire

Aceh ferry catches fire

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Fire destroyed an anchored ferry at the Lampu-uk Aceh Besar tourist resort Tuesday, causing a financial loss of more than Rp 300 million ($135,000) but no casualties, Antara reported yesterday.

Hennie H. Pangalila, director of the company which owns Hennie Express PT Makmur Babee, said that preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was started by an electrical short circuit.

He said their insurance company is committed to paying only Rp 145 million of the whole loss.

Ship captain Safrizal recounted that the fire developed so rapidly that all efforts the crew made to put it out ended in vain and that the ferry was finished in about 15 minutes. (pan)