Sri Inderapura blaze started from tank stowage area

IPOH: The blaze that destroyed the KD Sri Inderapura on Oct 8 is believed to have started from the tank stowage area on the third level deck of the vessel.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department acting assistant superintendent (operations) Nadzri Zakaria said the fire had been doused but 70% of the stern section of the vessel had submerged.

A private company had been engaged to refloat the sunken stern, he told reporters at the department’s Hari Raya open house on Friday.

A minor oil spill from the vessel had been cleared, said Nadzri, adding that the KD Inderapura was laden with about 2.5 million litres of diesel.

The 40-year-old vessel, which was refurbished and commissioned in 1995, caught fire while berthed at the RMN base jetty.

The vessel was towed to Tanjung Hantu when it caught fire for the second time, believed to have been ignited by embers. — Bernama