Jakarta, IO – The speedboat used in the daily activities of Teluk Wondama (West Papua) regent caught fire at Kuri Pasai pier, Wasior, Tuesday (16/5).
The incident reportedly killed one resident who died from severe injury after he was rushed to Dr Albert Torey Wasior Hospital. It also injured two other people.
Fransiskus, an eyewitness, said the fire was caused by a short circuit in the battery. The fire then spread quickly to the fuel tank.
“The speedboat was being docked waiting for the regent, Hendrik Mambor, who was planning to visit an island. Suddenly there was an explosion causing the glass to shatter. I saw the crew members on the ship jumped into the sea. We have yet to know the identity of the dead,” said Fransiskus, reported CNN Indonesia, Tuesday (16/5).
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According to Fransiskus, residents around the location are trying to pull the burning motorboat away from the pier.
However, the fire completely engulfed the entire boat. Teluk Wondama has sub-districts and villages on separate islands. These conditions have made motorboat the preferred mode of transportation to facilitate the mobility of goods and people living in the region. (un)