The Federal II, a oil tanker undergoing maintenance work at the PT ASL shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, was the scene of a fire in the early hours of Wednesday, October 15. Authorities have so far confirmed the death of ten workers and 21 other people affected by the incident, bringing the total number of people involved in the tragedy to 31.
Shipyard fire leaves casualties and serious injuries
The explosion occurred at around 04:00 WIB in the Tanjunguncang industrial zone, located in the district of Batuaji, Riau Islands province. The first hypotheses point to an accumulation of gases during welding work as a possible trigger of the fire.
According to statements by the regional police chief, those affected include workers who were on board the vessel carrying out repair work. Eighteen of them were rushed to various hospitals in Sagulung and Batuaji, some in critical condition.
The incident has raised questions about safety conditions at shipyards in the region. PT ASL has not yet issued an official statement, while local authorities and forensic teams continue investigations at the scene.
Questions about security protocols
The Federal II was out of commercial operation at the time of the incident and was not carrying cargo. The rapid spread of the fire reportedly hampered evacuation efforts.
Fire and rescue teams worked for hours to control the fire and assist the injured. The magnitude of the incident has prompted an institutional response, including the intervention of the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).
While technical expertise continues and the final list of victims is being consolidated, the case has reignited the debate on the compliance of safety standards in naval infrastructures in Southeast Asia.
Source: Tribun News
Photo: Shutterstock
