Ten Fatalities in Indonesian Oil Tanker Blaze during Maintenance Operations

Jakarta, 16 Oct (ONA) --- A fire aboard an oil tanker undergoing maintenance near Singapore has resulted in ten fatalities and twenty-one injuries, Indonesian authorities confirmed today. The incident occurred aboard the MT Federal II at approximately 4:30 AM local time while the vessel was docked at a shipyard on Batam Island in western Indonesia.

Police Chief reported that emergency response teams contained the blaze within one hour of its outbreak in the ship's engine room. Preliminary investigations indicate the fire ignited during repair operations, prompting an official inquiry into the exact cause.

The MT Federal II had previously experienced a similar incident in June, when a fire in an incompletely emptied fuel tank claimed four lives. The recurrence of such an incident aboard the same vessel has raised concerns about safety protocols in maritime maintenance operations in the region.

--- Ends/Khalid