Aussie warship rescues passengers

SURABAYA: A visiting Australian warship came to the rescue of hundreds of passengers trapped in an Indonesian ferry which caught fire in the Straits of Madura Sunday afternoon.

The HMS Melbourne rescued all passengers of the Selat Madura II, which caught fire a few minutes after leaving the Ujung pier, Tanjung Perak police spokesman, Lt. Col. Wisjnu Amat Sastro, said yesterday.

"Preliminary reports said the fire started at the ship's funnel and spread to its buoys," Sastro was quoted by Antara as saying.

The ferry was bound for Kamal port in Madura.