Fire Aboard Indonesian Deck Cargo Vessel Claims Two Lives

The Indonesian-flagged deck cargo vessel Legenda Nusantara699 caught fire in the early hours of 1 September, killing two of its crew members. Authorities suspect the chemical cargo it was carrying caused the blaze.

Vessel LENGEND NUSANTARA699, image credit:X/@kompastv

The incident occurred at 1:00 a.m. local time on 1 September while the vessel was transiting between Pulau Selayar and Pulau Kabaena, en route from Jakarta to Morowali, Indonesia. According to the Kendari Search and Rescue Office, the fire was believed to have been triggered by a chemical leak aboard the vessel.

All 13 crew members were transferred to the cement carrier KBR Benua Dua. One crew member died before the rescue vessel reached shore; another was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. The captain remains hospitalized and is believed to be suffering from chemical poisoning.

The vessel burned extensively, then overturned and sank, spilling some of its chemical cargo into the sea. An investigation has been launched, and efforts are underway to manage the environmental impact of the spill.