Five killed after boat explosion
Fadli, The Jakarta Post/Batam
Five people were killed and three others severely injured when a wooden freighter carrying diesel fuel exploded in the Laut Blantas III harbor in Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands on Tuesday afternoon. Tanjung Pinang is about 30 kilometers east of Batam island.
Tanjung Pinang Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Widodo Eko Prihastopo told The Jakarta Post via telephone that the incident occurred when two technicians assisted by six members of the crew were repairing a leaking storage tank of the KM Setia Rezeki.
They were busy welding the tank, when suddenly there were two massive explosions, believed to have been sparked by the welding. A fire then broke out and the whole boat went up in flames.
Five people died instantly in the explosion.
The charred remains of welding technicians Imam Abrianda, alias Wahid, 24, and Paulus, 28, and three crew members, Zalidar Siagian, 26, Said Kamaruzzaman, 42 and Acok, 22, were found some time later. It took a long time to locate the bodies which were thrown overboard and trapped by debris from the tank.
All the crew members who had died were found as of 8 p.m., while three other crew members, Hendra, Zainal and Heri sustained serious burn wounds.
The police are questioning a man named Ayong, who ordered the leaking tanks to be welded. Police are still locating the boat owner, said Widodo.
"We have also requested a forensic team from Medan to investigate the cause of the accident," said Widodo.
According to Widodo, based on information from eyewitnesses and boat crew members, the KM Setia Rezeki functioned as a diesel fuel freighter and traveled between Batam and Tanjung Pinang once a week. The boat had been docked at the harbor in Tanjung Unggat since Nov. 21 for repairs.
"All the injured victims are being treated at Tanjung Pinang General Hospital at the moment. We have still to ascertain whether there was any other cause of the accident, or any foul play was involved," said Widodo.
The wooden pier was also burned in the incident. Another wooden boat moored beside the KM Setia Rezeki was partly burned.