Joint team evacuates passengers from KMP Batumandi after fire in Merak

Serang (ANTARA) - A joint team from the Banten Regional Police’s Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has been deployed to evacuate passengers from KMP Batumandi, which caught fire in the waters off Merak.

Banten Police Public Relations Head Commissioner Maruli Ahiles Hutapea said in Serang on Tuesday that the passenger vessel caught fire behind Pulau Kecil Merak, in Mekarsari Village, Pulomerak District, Cilegon, at about 4pm local time.

“Joint personnel moved quickly to the scene shortly after receiving the report,” he said.

The priority for responders at the site is to secure all passengers and crew so that the rescue can proceed safely and smoothly.

“The evacuation is still under way. The BPBD team and Banten Police’s Ditpolairud are carrying out the evacuation at the scene,” he said.

Several rescue vessels operated by search-and-rescue teams and the police have been sent to the fire’s coordinates to speed up the transfer of passengers to a safe area.

Banten Police said all emergency response resources had been put on standby on land and in the waters around Merak Port to receive those evacuated.

“The number of casualties and the cause of the fire are still being recorded and investigated by the teams at the scene,” Maruli said.