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Four crew members arrested after boat explosion in N. Jakarta
The Jakarta Police have arrested four crew members of the Zahro Express motor vessel (KM), which caught fire then exploded in waters of Thousand Islands, North Jakarta, on Sunday, for their alleged responsibility over the fatal incident.
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Fatal incident -- Personnel of the National Police's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team carry the body of one of the Zahro Express passengers that died after the boat exploded in Thousand Islands waters on Sunday. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he Jakarta Police have arrested four crew members of the Zahro Express motor vessel (KM), which caught fire then exploded in waters of Thousand Islands, North Jakarta, on Sunday, for their alleged responsibility over the fatal incident.
The police’s water police unit (Polair) chief Sr. Comr. Hero Hendriarto Bachtiar said on Monday the arrested crew members, including the helmsman, had been questioned but none of them had been named suspects.
“We have also questioned two staff members of the Transportation Ministry who had issued the KM Zahro Express’ voyage permit and three passengers of the ship,” Hero said.
He refused to give details of both the identity of the witnesses the police had interrogated and the temporary results of their initial investigation.
“I can’t reveal it. It will be officially announced by the Jakarta Police’s public relations division,” Hero said.
(Read also: 11 victims of Jakarta boat accident released from hospital)
On Sunday, the KM Zahro Express caught fire during its way to Tidung Island, Thousand Islands. Departing from Muara Angke Port in North Jakarta, the vessel carried around 200 passengers who wanted to celebrate the New Year on the island.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that 23 passengers were killed in the incident while 17 people suffered injuries. It further said 194 passengers survived the incident while 17 others are reportedly still missing.
It is suspected that the boat exploded after fire sparks caused by a short circuit in its engine had reached the fuel container. Authorities are investigating the incident to find out the causes of the explosion. (ebf)
