Sparks ignite gas cargo aboard ship

Floating flames: The raging fire that destroyed the cargo ship at Jeti Syah Bandar Mersing.

MERSING: It started off as sparks near the engine room, which later spread and destroyed the cargo vessel which was docked at Jeti Syah Bandar here.

The fire started at 1.30am and the ship sank soon after.

Mersing OCPD Supt Cyril Edward Nuing said initial investigation showed that Mutiara Kargo 3 was carrying gas cylinders and petrol that were supposed to be sent to a resort in Pulau Tioman.

“A local worker who was on board noticed sparks from the engine, which later spread to other parts of the vessel,” he said.

He added that the fire quickly spread to the storage area of the vessel resulting in a few explosions that engulfed it before it sunk.

“A worker managed to escape and contacted the Fire and Rescue Department. The estimated loss from the fire is RM170,000,” he said, adding that the case is still under investigation.

Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue department operations commander Amir Hamzah Aris said at least five major explosions occurred during the hour-long fire.

“When we reached the jetty, the vessel was already engulfed in flames. No fatalities were reported,” he said.

The fire department managed to control the fire within 15 minutes.