Police hampered in examining burnt vessels at Muara Angke

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Sunda Kelapa Port Police has stated it is facing obstacles in examining three vessels that caught fire at the Muara Angke Pier, Pluit, North Jakarta, on Sunday (19/7).

“The condition of the vessels is still hot today and we are waiting for all parts of the vessels to cool down first,” said Sunda Kelapa Port Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Ery Suroto in Jakarta on Monday.

He said that besides still being hot, the vessels were still emitting flames on Sunday (19/7) night. “We are still waiting for the vessels to cool down. It could take up to a week,” he said.

He stated that officers have installed a police line around the vessels to ensure that no one enters the area and that evidence inside the vessels is not disturbed. In addition, officers have examined or taken statements from two people, but the vessel owner has not yet been questioned. “The owner is still performing umrah and will be questioned upon their return,” he said.

Previously, the North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Fire and Rescue Sub-Department suspected that the fire, which destroyed three vessels docked at the Muara Angke Pier, Pluit, North Jakarta, on Sunday morning, was triggered by an electrical short circuit during a repair process. “Information from witnesses indicates the fire was triggered by an electrical short circuit during vessel repairs,” said Gatot Sulaeman, Head of Operations for the Fire and Rescue Sub-Department, on Sunday. According to witness accounts, they saw smoke billowing from a vessel undergoing repairs or docking at the location. The witnesses then tried to seek help from nearby residents. However, the fire grew larger and they requested assistance from the fire department. “A total of three vessels were burnt,” he said.