Two boatmen suffer burns as vessel bursts into flames

KOTA KINABALU: Two boatmen suffered burns after a vessel loaded with petrol burst into flames near a jetty in Sabah's north-eastern Paitan subdistrict in Beluran on Friday (July 22).

One of the victims, identified as Mohd Jefri Kaung, 39, suffered burns to about 60% of his body.

Beluran Fire and Rescue Station chief Edeon Macheal said another victim Taufik Jamin, 19, suffered burns of about 8% on his body.

He said the victims were rushed to Hospital Pitas by members of the public.

“The 15m long boat was completely destroyed in the 5.15pm incident.

“A team of firefighters was rushed to the location about 173km from the fire station and on arriving at the scene, we found two men suffering burns on their limbs,” he said in a statement on Saturday (July 23).

Edeon said they were investigating the cause of the fire.