A ferry traveling from Kali Adem to Tidung Island in North Jakarta burst into flames on Sunday morning after a fire in its engine room reached the fuel container. Twenty three people were killed in the explosion.

Thousand Islands Regency fire fighter and safety agency head Eko Mahendro said the ferry, the Zahro Express, departed from Kali Adem Port in Penjaringan at 8:50 a.m. The ferry was carrying around 100 passengers.

“The incident occurred at 9:24 a.m,” he said.

Fire fighters tried to put out the fires by sending two water pumps and a fire boat unit. (wit)