79 escape unhurt from ferry fire near Pulau Bidong

Vessel completely destroyed by blaze, says T’ganu MMEA chief

KUALA TERENGGANU – Seventy-nine passengers and crew members escaped unhurt after a fire erupted on a ferry heading towards the Taman Tamadun Islam (TTI) jetty here this afternoon.

Terengganu Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid said the agency received a report regarding the incident from the Maritime rescue sub-centre in Kuantan, Pahang at about 3pm.

“The ferry is believed to have been travelling from Pulau Redang towards the TTI jetty before it caught fire near Pulau Bidong. “Two MMEA assets were deployed to the scene,” he said when contacted.

Khairulanuar said all the victims involved were safely transferred to the TTI jetty.

“The flames had spread to the entire ferry, leaving it totally destroyed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” he said.

Several video clips of the incident also went viral on social media, and netizens claimed that smoke from the fire was visible a few kilometres from the scene.

– Bernama, May 6, 2023