This file handout photo taken on May 29, 2021 and released by National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows smoke billowing from the KM Karya Indah ferry, which was sailing in the Molucca sea heading for Sanana, a port on the island of Limafatola, when a fire broke out. (HANDOUT / NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY / AFP)
JAKARTA – A fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday as the evacuation of passengers and crew members was underway, the head of the provincial search and rescue office said.
The ship, named Shantika Lestari, caught fire when it was sailing in the waters off Kupang city, according to Richard Pelt, a senior official of the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency
"Rescue operation is underway. Our personnel are attempting to rescue the crew and the passengers of the ship," Putu Sudayana told Xinhua by phone.
The ship, named Shantika Lestari, caught fire when it was sailing in the waters off Kupang city, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, according to Richard Pelt, a senior official of the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency.
The ship, which departed from a seaport in Kupang city, was heading to the Alor district of the province, he told Xinhua.
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A video footage showed a huge black smoke appearing from the ship and passengers were wearing life jackets.