|
Two
vessels, one a bulk carrier registered in
Liberia and a container ship, collided off the
coast here, causing a huge fire in the middle of
the Straits of Malacca.
Marine police and the marine department received
an SOS call from the bulk carrier after it
caught fire in the collision which occurred at
about 9.30pm last night.
The fire could be seen from the town area.
Port Dickson OCPD Supt Mazlan Othman said rescue
teams plucked 14 crew members from the bulk
carrier from the sea after arriving at the
scene.
Unconfirmed reports said that another ship,
which was in the vicinity, also caught fire but
it was put out by its crew.
“We have intensified rescue efforts as we
believe several crew members on the stricken
bulk carrier are missing or trapped,” he said.
Supt Mazlan said he did not know yet if the
accident occurred in international or Malaysian
waters.
He said fishermen in the area were helping out
in search and rescue operations.
“We have cordoned off the area as there were
several explosions on the vessel,” he said.
It is learnt that the bulk carrier was coming in
to Port Dickson for repairs.
The bulk carrier was still ablaze as at 11.30pm.
Efforts by reporters to get to the scene were
futile because authorities had prohibited them
from going near the vessels.
Townsfolk were shocked when they heard several
explosions since there are two oil refineries in
the area.
Source: The STAR |
