Indonesia to investigate sinking of scorched ferry

Jakarta: Indonesian police are to investigate how a fire-damaged ferry capsized as officials and journalists inspected the charred hulk, officials said yesterday.

A television cameraman was killed when the anchored vessel went down off Jakarta on Sunday after officials from the national transport safety board, police and journalists went aboard.

Rescuers were searching for another cameraman and two police officers who were still missing, said Colonel Didin Zainal Abidin, who coordinates the navy rescue team. A reporter was in hospital in serious condition.

Legislator Abdullah Azwar Anas said Sunday's incident demonstrated shoddy investigation management.

"It was extremely embarrassing and it was sheer recklessness," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

Rescuers found the bodies of six more fire victims yesterday, bringing the death toll from last Thursday's blaze aboard the Levina I to at least 48, Abidin said later.

They also found a body believed to be that of a policeman who was on the charred hulk when it sank on Sunday.

Totally unexpected

The fire broke out soon after dawn on Thursday as the ferry headed from Jakarta to Bangka island off Sumatra.

On Saturday the hulk was towed to a point just a few miles from Jakarta's main port.

Setyo Rahardjo, chairman of the National Transport Safety Commission, said the sinking was totally unexpected and would require a police investigation.

"We did not think about the possibility of the ship sinking because it was just fine when it was towed 50 miles in the sea," he said by telephone.

He said officials had boarded the vessel only after a clearance from marine police that it was free from gas.

Journalists had been warned of the danger of going aboard and told to wear life jackets but some had refused, said Colonel Abidin of the navy search team.

"There was a briefing, there was a warning from the port administrator that the ship was dangerous," he said.

"Some journalists refused to wear life vests, saying they were cumbersome. It was a pure accident," he said.

Carlo Tewu, Jakarta chief police detective, said national police would investigate the sinking of the ferry.

Television footage taken moments before the ferry went down showed reporters and cameramen walking confidently on the listing ship, none wearing life jackets.