Three Vessels Gutted by Fire at Muara Angke, Police Launch Investigation

A fire destroyed three vessels berthed at Muara Angke dock, Penjaringan sub-district, North Jakarta, on Sunday (19 July).

The Criminal Investigation Unit (Reskrim) of the Sunda Kelapa Area Police Sector is conducting an investigation, pending the condition of the vessels becoming safe enough for crime scene processing.

“We are still investigating,” said the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Sunda Kelapa Area Police Sector, AKP Ery Suroto, in Jakarta on Sunday.

Ery said the investigation aims to determine whether there are any indications of criminal wrongdoing in the fire.

He acknowledged that the unit’s team has not yet been able to board the vessels because they remain hot following the fire.

Officers will process the crime scene on the three vessels once they have cooled down.

The police have already taken statements from several witnesses near the scene.

“For now we cannot process the scene because it is still hot after the fire,” he said.

The North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Fire and Rescue Sub-department (Gulkarmat) currently suspects the fire that gutted the three vessels on Sunday morning was triggered by an electrical short circuit during ship repair work.

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

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 residents nearby. However, the flames grew larger and they called the fire brigade.