News24
19 Aug 2019, 11:41 GMT+10
Seven people, including two children, were killed and four others are missing after a ferry carrying dozens of passengers caught fire off Indonesia's Sulawesi island early on Saturday, police said.
The ferry, heading from Southeast Sulawesi to an island in Central Sulawesi, caught fire shortly after midnight.
"Suddenly there were sparks in the engine and fire quickly spread to other parts of the boat," local police spokesperson Harry Goldenhard said in a statement.
Police suspect the fire was triggered when the diesel tank exploded.
It was unclear how many people were aboard the vessel at the time.
Search launched
The passenger manifest listed 50, but rescuers and locals recovered 61 survivors, while seven people, including two children aged two and four, were found dead.
A search has been launched for four passengers reported missing.
Marine accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17 000 islands, where many use ferries and other boats to travel despite poor safety standards.
Ferry operators often sell illegal tickets, exceeding the allowed capacity.
More than 160 people died when a passenger ferry sank in one of the world's deepest lakes on Sumatra island last year.
In 2009, more than 300 people are estimated to have drowned when a ferry sank between the islands of Sulawesi and Borneo.
GET THE NEWS at your fingertips and download the News24 app for Android here now. Get it for your iPhone here.
Get a daily dose of Nepal National news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Nepal National.
More InformationFRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
Nearly three months after a devastating earthquake struck Myanmar, the country remains trapped in a deepening crisis, compounded by...
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 5 (ANI): Following his win at the inaugural NC Classic at Bengaluru, India's world champion and...
New Delhi [India], July 5 (ANI): India's batting mainstay Virat Kohli had unstinting praise in store for Test captain Shubman Gill,...
Birmingham [UK], July 5 (ANI): Rishabh Pant made history on Saturday, becoming the first Asian wicketkeeper-batter to score 2,000 runs...
Kabul [Afghanistan], July 5 (ANI): A large number of Afghans recently deported from Iran are facing severe challenges, including homelessness,...