Inp.polri.go.id - Karangasem.  Five of the 21 crew members aboard the Tanker Elisabeth died, and others were injured in a fire off Gili Topekong, Karangasem, Bali, on Wednesday (7/8/2024).

First Inspector I Gede Sukadana, the Karangasem sub-regional  Police, confirmed the fatalities, identifying the deceased as Joko, Ismail, Riski, Syahlan, and Faturahman, who worked as mechanics in the engine room.

Twelve crew members were treated for minor injuries at Graha Bakti Klungkung Hospital. Three crew members with severe burns were admitted to Sanglah Hospital. The ship's captain survived the incident, as reported by antaranews.com

The fire started around 3 am local time after an explosion was heard while the ship was en route to Badas Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara. The crew was unable to move the vessel after a second explosion occurred, leading to the fire in the engine room. Efforts by Karangasem Water and Air Police, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) PT Pertamina and others were made to evacuate the victims.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)