Electrical Short Circuit During Repairs Triggers Fire on Three Vessels in Muara Angke

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Sub-department of Fire Fighting and Rescue (Gulkarmat) suspects that the fire which engulfed three vessels berthed at Muara Angke Pier, Pluit Subdistrict, North Jakarta, on Sunday morning was triggered by an electrical short circuit during ship repair works.

“Information from witnesses indicates the fire was triggered by an electrical short circuit during ship repairs,” said Gulkarmat Head of Operations Gatot Sulaeman in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to witness accounts, they saw smoke billowing from a vessel undergoing repairs, or docking work, at the location.

The witnesses then attempted to seek help from residents near the site. However, the flames grew larger and they called for assistance from the fire brigade.

“In total, three vessels were burned,” he said.

The North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Sub-department of Fire Fighting and Rescue (Gulkarmat) extinguished the vessels that caught fire while berthed at Muara Angke Pier on Jalan Dermaga Ujung 1 Blok Empang, Pluit Village, Pluit Subdistrict, on Sunday morning.

“Officers received word of the fire at 08.37 WIB,” said Gatot Sulaeman, Head of Operations of the North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Gulkarmat, in Jakarta.

Officers are still working to extinguish the fire at the scene. A total of 12 fire engines with 65 personnel were deployed to the site to put out the blaze that consumed the wooden vessels.

Officers began firefighting operations at 08.50 WIB, and the fire was only successfully extinguished at 11.52 WIB.

“It took three hours to make sure the fire on the vessels could be extinguished. Thank God, the fire has been put out,” he said.