Indonesian police arrest ferry captain over fatal fire
The captain of a tourist ferry that caught fire on January 1, leaving 40 people dead or missing in Indonesia, was arrested on January 3 on charge of negligence.
Jakarta (VNA) - The captain of a tourist ferry thatcaught fire on January 1, leaving 40 people dead or missing in Indonesia, wasarrested on January 3 on charge of negligence.
The Zahro Express was carrying at least 247 people from MuaraAngke port in northern Jakarta to Tidung, a resort island, 50 km from Ancolcoast, when it caught fire. Most of the passengers were Indonesians.
A total of 224 passengers were rescued, and 23 bodies wererecovered. Seventeen others are still missing.
The vessel's captain Mohamad Nali was arrested for questioningfollowing the incident, including accusation of negligence of passengeroverload on the ferry, Jakarta Maritime Police chief Colonel Hero HendriantoBachtiar said.
Nali, 51, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The chief of the Muara Angke port authority has also been dismissedfor alleged negligence in overseeing the voyage.
A search for the missing continued on January 3, but officialshave not ruled out that those reported missing could be among 20 unidentifiedbodies found inside the ship.
The cause of the fire is still not clear, but authoritiessuspect that it was caused by a short circuit in the engine room.-VNA
At least 23 people were killed, 20 were wounded and 17 others went missing after a ferry with about 200 people aboard caught fire off the coast of Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 1.
Indonesian authorities said on January 1 that the fire of the Zahro Express ferry in the waters off North Jakarta in the morning of the first day of the New Year was likely be triggered by fire from its engine.
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A search for the missing continues (Source: AP)
