Woman killed in passenger panic

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: A women was trampled to death as passengers panicked trying to disembark from the KM Umsini passenger liner when its galley caught fire.

The ship had just docked at Sorong harbor on Wednesday afternoon from Ambon, Maluku, and passengers were quietly making their way down the gangway when a burst of flames and smoke billowed from the galley.

Ship security was able to put out the fire, however, they later discovered that a young woman -- Fitryanti from Surabaya, East Java -- had been caught under the ensuing stampede and died as thousands of passengers tried to flee.

Antara reported on Thursday that police are still investigating the cause of the fire, however they suspect it may have been caused by an electrical short circuit.