Fire breaks out on under-repair ferry in Langkawi

LANGKAWI: An under-repair passenger ferry caught fire at the tourism jetty near Pekan Rabu, here, on Tuesday.

A witness who wanted to be known as Lim said the fire broke out at the wheelhouse and the front passenger deck of the Coral Island I at about 10.15am.

“Crew members of the ferry put out the fire before firemen arrived,” he said.

Langkawi Fire and Rescue Station operations commander Mohd Zabidi Che Teh said no one was injured in the fire and its cause is being investigated.

The burnt bridge of the ship.

 

“The incident occurred at 10.18am at the tourism jetty near Pekan Rabu.

“Firemen and two engines went to the scene after receiving a distress call from one of the crew members.

“The fire was brought under control at 10.38am,” Mohd Zabidi said, adding that three senior fire officers with 18 firemen took part in the operation.

About 30% of the ferry was damaged in the fire.

The Coral Island I is one of several ferries plying between Kuah, here, and Pulau Payar island for tourists to go diving and snorkelling.