Indonesia oil tanker catches fire in Batam, killing 10, local police say

JAKARTA - At least 10 people were killed and 18 injured after an oil tanker caught fire early on Oct 15 as it was being repaired in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province, according to local police.

Fire broke out on the vessel, the MT Federal II, at around 4am (5am in Singapore) at a shipyard in the city of Batam, local police chief Zaenal Arifin said. Batam is around 20km away from Singapore by sea.

MT Federal II was docked and undergoing repairs when it caught fire, Mr Arifin said, adding that the cause was under investigation and the ship was not carrying oil.

As of the afternoon on Oct 15, 10 people had died and 18 others were receiving treatment in the hospital, Mr Arifin said, adding that all the victims were working to repair the vessel.

“Some of them were heavily injured,” Mr Arifin said.

He added that it was not clear who owns the vessel.

In June,

a vessel caught fire in Batam

while being repaired, killing four people and injuring nine others. In that case, local police have named two people who are suspected of violating standard safety procedures. REUTERS