2 dead, 3 hurt in boat explosion off Banggi Island

KUDAT: Two people died while three, including a child, sustained injuries when a cargo boat ferrying petrol exploded off Banggi Island here yesterday.

The two deceased are the vessel’ s crew members. They were identified as Jafar Janidil, 61, and Sahlan Ashadan, 27.

Their bodies are still at the Karakit health clinic and will be handed over to family members after documentation is completed.

Three other victims include Jafar’s two sons. Mohd Kamarudin, 26, injured his right foot while the other son, Mohamad Nasaruddin, 10, suffered burns on half his body.

The child and another critically-ill passenger, Azmain Nawali, 45, were taking the boat to return to their village at Kampung Padang off Banggi Island when the incident occurred.

The district Malay-sian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) launched a rescue operation at 7.03pm yesterday after being alerted by the public to the incident.

“Two boats were despatched to the scene, located 0.3 nautical miles west off Banggi Island. The cargo boat from Kudat was carrying 10,000 litres of diesel to be used by villagers,” MMEA Sabah and Labuan director First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som said in a statement.

He said the crew members were moving the diesel from the boat to the village when the vessel exploded.

The cargo boat from Kudat was carrying 10,000 litres of diesel to be used by villagers FIRST ADMIRAL MOHD ZUBIL MAT SOM MMEA Sabah and Labuan director