LANGKAWI, 25 Feb 2019:
A total of 46 of the 52 passengers – who were saved after the ferry they were travelling in caught fire – have returned to Kuala Perlis at 6pm today.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritime Malaysia) deputy director of operations Kedah and Perlis, captain Zulinda Ramly said the special chartered ferry was provided by the office of the Langkawi MP for the passengers who were travelling home this evening.
“Two other victims are still receiving treatment for slight injuries at Hospital Sultanah Maliha, while four others have decided to return home tomorrow and are now staying in a hotel here,” he said at the Kuah Ferry Terminal here.
Zulinda said of the 52 passengers who were saved, 22 were men, 24 women, three boys and three girls.
“All the victims who were saved have been asked to lodge police reports to facilitate investigations by the Malaysian Marine Department.”
“About 10 minutes after departing, the ferry stopped in the middle of the sea and we saw smoke from the engine compartment filling up the passenger area.”
That was the harrowing tale shared by Nor Atiqah Norman Shah, of Melaka, who was rescued.
She said passengers saw three crew members running from the engine section to go up and meet the ferry’s captain.
“Three times I asked them why the engine compartment was filled with smoke, but they ignored me.
“Then, the passenger area on the left side and near to the engine section caught fire. The whole compartment was filled with smoke and that was when we were all ordered to go to the front and exit the ferry.”
Nor Atiqah said she, her eight family members and other passengers then started scrambling to save themselves.
“Some had time to wear life jackets, some didn’t. We were then transferred to two fishing boats and a tourist boat which had rushed to our rescue,” said Nor Atiqah, who works with a private firm in Gelang Patah, Johor.
Nor Atiqah and her family, who have been here since Saturday for holiday, said all their bags and purchases went up in smoke.
Meanwhile, Suhidah Suib said the whole thing happened so fast that she too did not have time to save any of her belongings.
“The moment the ferry left the terminal, there was already a strong smell of fuel. Then the ferry stopped and it seemed like it was going to go back to the Kuah terminal.
“Then there was thick smoke and the back of the ferry caught fire. We were told to get out and, before I realised what was happening, I was already on a fishing boat. At that time, there was a huge fire on the ferry and we even heard explosions,” said Suhidah, who still looked traumatised by the incident.
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) will carry out a forensic investigation on the ferry that caught fire, here today as soon as possible to avoid a recurrence.
Head of the Pesiaran Putra Fire and Rescue Department, Langkawi, assistant fire superintendent Mohd Shukri Ahmad Husaini said the department would also ask for an explanation from the ferry operator on safety measures and emergency procedure carried out by the crew members of the ferry during the incident.
“The fire forensic division will carry out an investigation on the fire, we hope to resolve the matter as soon as possible as it might involve other ferries and passengers besides looking after the image of Pulau Langkawi.
“The department will also carry out a post mortem and ask the management of the ferry company concerned on what actually happened and how the passengers were taken to safety during the emergency.”
He said it was also fortunate there was no casualty reported, possibly because the number of passengers on the ferry was rather small.
In the incident at 2.40pm, 58 passengers and crew were rescued after the ferry caught fire in waters near the passenger jetty in Kuah, here.
The ferry had just departed from the jetty 10 minutes earlier heading for Kuala Perlis.
– Bernama
