Fire Blazes Cargo Ship in Cilacap, Evacuation Continues

TheIndonesia.co - A fire broke out on a cargo ship in Teluk Penyu waters in Cilacap, Central Java, as authorities continue to help all crew to safety.

Head of search and rescue office at Cilacap’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) I Nyoman Sidakarya reported that 21 out of total 26 crew have been evacuated as of 9.50 a.m., since the fire started blazing on Wednesday morning, December 1, 2021.

“We’re still evacuating the remaining crew of MT Sumantri Brodjonegoro – PT PI Logistik ship that caught fire. Up until 09.50 WIB [Western Indonesia Time], we’ve evacuated 21 out of the 26 crew,” Sidakarya said in Cilacap on Wednesday.

According to him, the remaining five people are still onboard to assist with the fire extinguishment process

Based on report from the evacuees, fire first broke out at 07.15 a.m., and the source of fire has yet to be determined as dense smoke suddenly appeared.

Besides Basarnas, personnel from Cilacap Naval Base, Water Police from Cilacap Resort Police, state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, Cilacap Port Authority, and others also take part in the effort to evacuate and put out the fire.

The cargo ship carried fertilizer that belonged to PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja and was on Area 70 or Pertamina-owned port when smoke was first spotted.