Seven Fishing Boats Destroyed in Fire at Belawan Port, Four Fire Engines Deployed

A fierce blaze swept through the fish landing area at Belawan Port, North Sumatra, on Saturday (20/6) afternoon, destroying at least seven wooden fishing boats. The fire broke out around 11.30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.

The flames, which appeared suddenly, rapidly grew and consumed the moored vessels. The wooden construction of the boats allowed the fire to spread easily, sending thick plumes of black smoke high into the air, visible from various corners of the port area.

Panic briefly gripped the scene. Fishermen, port workers, and local residents scrambled to save other boats near the fire. Fortunately, the high tide facilitated the evacuation, allowing several boats to be pulled away from the flames before they could catch fire.

Firefighters responding to the incident deployed at least four fire engines to the scene. The team battled the blaze to prevent it from spreading to public facilities, storage warehouses, and other vessels docked in the landing area.

Abdul, an employee of Gudang Mitra, expressed his anxiety as the fire grew in the busy shipping area. "We were very worried because the fire spread so quickly. We were afraid it would spread to other boats and the warehouses nearby," he said at the scene.

Local resident Panut Silban echoed the concern, noting that the origin of the fire remained a mystery. "It is still unclear where the fire came from. It just suddenly grew," he said.

After intensive firefighting efforts, officers eventually managed to bring the situation under control. Cooling operations continued into the afternoon to ensure no hidden hotspots could reignite.

Although there were no fatalities, the material losses are expected to be significant, as the seven wooden boats were completely destroyed. Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and to tally the total losses incurred.