SW News: At least 14 people perished in a blaze on board a vessel in Indonesia in East Nusa Tenggara province. According to the rescue officials, the KM Express Cantika 77 boat carrying close to 240 passengers caught fire on Monday, October 24.

According to the statement from the National Search and Rescue Agency, rescuers from the Kupang Search and Rescue Agency saved 226. However, it stated that 14 deaths had been confirmed. The cause of the fire breakout is being investigated.

According to the head of the rescue team, Putu Sudayana, the rescue process will continue for the time being. He said, "The joint rescue team, together with local fishermen, is still searching for passengers who are suspected to be missing."

As per UCA News, one of the survivors, Mathias Asmau, said that an explosion at the rear portion of the deck triggered the blaze. He said, "There was no alarm or warning sign that the ship was on fire."

In Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, ferry, and boat catastrophes are common as they are frequently utilized for transportation. In the province of North Sumatra in 2018,167 individuals lost their lives when an overcrowded boat carrying about 200 passengers sank in a deep volcanic crater lake.

One of the worst tragedies ever recorded in the country occurred in February 1999 when an overcrowded passenger ship carrying 332 passengers sank. Only 20 individuals managed to survive.