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 Tragedy
struck once more on Sunday as the Indonesian ferry that had went on fire
with the deaths of at least 42 people last week capsized off Jakarta as
officials and media people inspected the charred vessel. Further details
about the ship are also emerging.
At least one person has been killed and five others are missing according
to witnesses and media sources.
Lt Col Hendra Pakan told journalists that the ship had almost completely
disappeared into the sea and that the movement of the ship had been
sudden.
The dead man is reported to be a TV cameraman and one other cameraman, two
safety officials and two police officers are missing. Lativi Television of
East Jakarta confirmed that the dead man was one of their cameramen.
The ship had been moved to a location some 10 km off the port of Jakarta
and a spokesman for the Indonesian Navy said that the ship had been
listing.
Earlier the death toll had risen to 42 after fisherman found more bodies.
It is feared many more missing people could have perished.
The LEVINA 1 had been on her way to Bangka Island off Sumatra. A fire had
taken hold on board soon after dawn on Thursday 50 miles from Jakarta.
Relatives of people on board are reporting they have not heard from their
loved ones since the tragedy occurred.
A problem for authorities it is alleged is that it is quite common for
people to board the ferries in Indonesia unrecorded, usually by sneaking
aboard and avoiding paying for their tickets. Also it has been reported
that babies and children are not recorded as they do not pay for tickets.
Indonesia's Transport Minister Hatta Rajasa has said that this is a
problem he is going to tackle, saying it was a 'big, big mistake' by the
ferry companies.
The fire is believed to have started when a truck on the car deck caught
fire. The truck was also thought to have been carrying a load of
inflammable chemicals.
She 1791 grt ship is believed to be the former Japanese Ro-Ro ferry
HAYAZURU MARU, built in Japan in 1981 by Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co., Ltd
Meanwhile kompas.com are reporting that the ship had recently undergone
annual inspection the week before the fire for the Classification Bureau of
Indonesia (Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia) at PT Dok dan Perkapalan Air Kantung dockyard
Jacob Bassang head of quality control said that the ship had passed
inspection and was seaworthy in all respects. All inspections, including
the sea water
valve for the provision of water to fight fires, had proven satisfactory
for the Class bureau,.
He said the only work they had been required to do on the vessel was
paintwork and servicing.
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