Three including two children burned in boat fire incident

LABUAN: Three individuals, including two children, were burned after a mining boat carrying 36 passengers from Menumbok to Labuan caught fire while in the waters off Tanjung Batu, this evening.

The incident at around 3pm sparked panic when the fire is believed to have started in the engine compartment before quickly spreading throughout the boat.

The captain steered the boat towards the shore to allow all passengers and crew to escape.

Labuan Police Chief, Superintendent Mohd Hamizi Halim, said initial investigations found that the mining boat departed from the Menumbok Terminal at 2.45 pm carrying 36 passengers including two children and three crew members heading to Labuan.

“The fire is believed to have started in the engine compartment before spreading to other parts of the boat. All passengers and crew managed to escape after the boat approached the coastal area.”

“The Labuan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) team managed to completely extinguish the fire at 4.15 pm,” he said in a media statement today.

According to him, the three victims who suffered burns consisted of a 29-year-old male crew member and two children, a boy and a girl, aged around one and two years old.

“All three victims are receiving treatment as outpatients at Labuan Hospital.”

“The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire department,” he said.

-Agency