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KNKT studies Zahro Express electric components after fatal accident
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Officers investigate Zahro Express remnants at a jetty in Muara Angke, North Jakarta (JP/Safrin La Batu)
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nvestigators from the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) on Thursday afternoon removed several electric generator components from the ill-fated Zahro Express boat and brought them to the laboratory for further investigation.
The investigators are trying to find out what caused the boat to burst into flames before exploding on Sunday morning, leading to the deaths of at least 24 people on board.
More specifically, the investigators suspect that the fire in the boat might have something to do with the boat’s electric system or main engine.
“We just took the dynamo. The boat’s main engine and diesel electric-generator are too big to be taken off,” Aldrin Dalimunte, head of KNKT’s sea transportation accident investigation, said after removing the components in Muara Angke, North Jakarta.
“It [the removal of the components] was based on our suspicions. But we haven’t made any conclusions,” he added.
(Read also: Police hunt for Zahro Express owner over fatal fire)
The officers previously said that the fire might have started in the engine room of the boat, which was carrying around 170 passengers. Besides killing 24 passengers, as many as 16 passengers are still missing.
The KNKT is tasked with investigating transportation accidents and making recommendations to improve safety to avoid similar accidents from happening again in the future.
