At least 14 people were killed and more than 200 were rescued in a fire on an Indonesian ferry on Monday afternoon. The KM Express Cantika 77 was en route from Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, to Kalabahi when it caught fire near Batek Island.
Rescuers said there were 230 passengers and 10 crew members on board the ship, which quickly caught fire. The East Nusa Tenggara rescue agency deployed inflatable boats and more than 50 rescue workers to evacuate the burning ferry, sources said. It is not yet clear what caused the fire.
Many of the survivors had put on life jackets and jumped overboard – some swam to shore. There are various reports of the number of people on board the ferry at the time of the accident. The Indonesian authorities even spoke of 312 rescued passengers on Tuesday morning.
More and more incidents with deaths
In Indonesia, which consists of a total of 17,000 islands, ferries are an important means of transport. They are much cheaper than flights. However, safety standards are often not met and many ships are overcrowded. Accidents with deaths and injuries happen time and again due to overload.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
