TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Police questioned nine individuals, including Mohammad Nali, captain of the Zahro Express, and three crews of the boat that was burned while sailing to Tidung Island on Sunday, January 1, 2017. Nali allegedly left the boat early when it was still engulfed in flames.
"We have arrested the skipper and three crew members. We have also questioned an officer of the Transportation Department, two officials of the Port Authority and three passengers as witnesses, a total of nine individuals," Jakarta Water Police Department director Sr. Comr. Hero Hendrianto Bachtiar told Tempo in a phone interview on Monday, January 2, 2017.
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Zahro Express boat catches fire after it departed from Muara Angke Port. Police have identified three out of 23 victimes died in the incident. Some are reportedly still missing and others have been admitted to local hospitals.
Police said that the individuals have been questioned as witnesses over the incident that involves 238 passengers. Investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway. So far, authorities said that the incident occurred due to carelessness, which include discrepancy between the actual number of passengers on board with those listed in the manifest.
INGE KLARA SAFITRI