Toxic Fumes Kill Two as Chemical Leak Engulfs Indonesian Cargo Ship
A 699 DWT vessel carrying unidentified chemicals caught fire off Sulawesi.
A chemical leak aboard an Indonesian cargo vessel sparked a fatal fire early Monday, claiming the lives of two crew members and leaving the ship’s captain hospitalized with severe poisoning. The incident occurred off Southeast Sulawesi, where the KM Legenda Nusantara 99 was transporting chemicals and heavy equipment from Jakarta to Morowali in Central Sulawesi.
The fire broke out around 1:00 a.m. local time in the waters between Selayar and Kabaena islands, according to Indonesia’s Kendari Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). All 13 crew members were exposed to thick smoke before rescue teams arrived. Two succumbed to the effects of toxic fumes: Yudi Bagus, a 22-year-old oiler who died while being transported to the hospital, and John Petro, the 42-year-old second officer, who was declared dead upon arrival. The vessel’s captain, Sahriar, remains in critical condition at LM Baharuddin Hospital in Muna after suffering severe chemical poisoning.
Rescue Operation and Vessel Details: Chemical Leak
While official rescue teams—including police, port authorities, and health workers—coordinated their response, the KM KBR Benua Dua, a nearby Indonesian-flagged cement and cargo carrier, reached the scene first. The vessel rescued all 13 crew members and transferred them to a coastal patrol boat for medical evaluation.
The KM Legenda Nusantara 99, a 78-meter (256-foot) ship built in 2019, was designed for inter-island cargo transport. With a deadweight tonnage of 699, it typically ferried goods between Indonesian ports. By the following morning, the vessel was found overturned and completely burned out, with authorities attributing the fire to a chemical leak from its cargo—though the specific substance has not been identified.
Safety Concerns and Ongoing Investigations
The tragedy highlights the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials by sea. While the exact cause of the leak remains under investigation, the incident has raised questions about safety protocols for chemical shipments in one of the world’s most active maritime regions. The captain’s ongoing treatment underscores the severity of chemical exposure at sea, where emergency response times can be delayed by remote locations.
As authorities continue their probe, the focus will likely turn to preventive measures to avoid similar disasters in the future.
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