Indonesia: 30 passengers missing after ship catches fire
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 30 passengers still missing after a passenger ship caught fire off East Java province, central Indonesia, local authorities said on August 23.
Ship KM Santika Nusantara catches fire off East Java province, central Indonesia (Source: ANTARA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian rescuers aresearching for 30 passengers still missing after a passenger ship caught fireoff East Java province, central Indonesia, local authorities said on August 23.
The KM Santika Nusantara was travelling betweenthe country’s second-largest city of Surabaya and the town of Balikpapan onBorneo island with 277 people on board, when it caught fire on August 22 night.
About 245 people have been evacuated using small boats, while 30 passengers arestill missing. Indonesian rescuers are searching for 30 the missing.
The rescuers could not enter the ship but searched for victims in watersaround the burning ship.
Officials have given no details on the cause ofthe fire. Rescue efforts were complicated by the boat’s manifest listing only111 passengers.
Ferries are an important means of transport in Indonesia, which is made up ofsome 17,000 islands, and sea connections are cheaper and more extensive thanair links.
But safety standards are not always strictly enforced and accidents occurfairly often. - VNA
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Ship KM Santika Nusantara catches fire off East Java province, central Indonesia (Source: ANTARA) 
