Banda Aceh-Sabang Ferry Explosion Victims Rise to 15: 14 Students and 1 Crew Member

An explosion occurred in the engine room of the Aceh Hebat (AH) 2 ferry operating the Banda Aceh-Sabang route. The victims of the incident include 14 students from the Malahayati Merchant Marine Polytechnic (Poltekpel) in Aceh Besar and one crew member, the chief engineer (KKM) of the ASDP vessel AH2, bringing the total number of casualties to 15.

This was confirmed by Muhammad Al Qadri, Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for Ferry Port Management Region I of the Aceh Transportation Agency. All victims sustained burn injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at Zainoel Abidin General Hospital in Banda Aceh. Some of the victims were evacuated from Ulee Lheu Port using a Transkoetaradja bus.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown. A forensic identification team from the Banda Aceh Police has arrived at the location to conduct an investigation. The sound of the explosion was reportedly heard around midday local time coming from the Aceh Hebat 2 vessel while it was docked at Ulee Lheue Port. Shortly afterwards, several people were seen being carried out of the ship with burn injuries.