Denpasar, Bali, indomaritim.com – Four foreign tourists and the crew of a snorkeling boat were rescued after an explosion set the vessel ablaze in Gamat Bay, off Bali’s Nusa Penida island, police said.
Bali Police Public Relations Division’s public information sub-division chief, Senior Commissioner Rina Isriana Dewi, said Friday that all tourists and crew members were evacuated safely.
“All foreign tourists and crew members were evacuated safely,” she said as cited from Antara News Agency.
The incident occurred at about 1:40 p.m. local time on Thursday, October 29, as the boat prepared to leave Gamat Bay after taking four foreign tourists on a private snorkeling trip.
The tour guide told police that the boat’s safety equipment and technical condition had been checked before departure and declared safe.
The boat departed at about 12:30 p.m. for snorkeling stops at Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay.
As the boat prepared to leave Gamat Bay, a loud explosion suddenly came from the vessel, possibly involving a battery component, police said.
The explosion triggered a fire that quickly spread across the boat.
“The tour guide and four foreign tourists immediately jumped into the sea to save themselves after seeing the fire,” Dewi said.
At about 2:50 p.m., another boat passing nearby arrived to help and evacuated all passengers and crew members.
No fatalities were reported.
However, the boat’s captain, I Kadek Dwiyana, 31, a Nusa Penida resident, suffered burns to his legs.
He received medical treatment in the emergency department of Gema Santhi Regional Hospital on Nusa Penida.
Dewi said police were investigating to establish the exact cause of the explosion and subsequent fire.
The Nusa Penida Police Criminal Investigation Unit has questioned witnesses and examined the scene. Officers also plan further on-site investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
Initial information indicated that the boat had undergone routine maintenance and repairs before the incident. (Edo)
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