Passenger ship catches fire in central Indonesia, rescue operation underway

JAKARTA -- A fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday as the evacuation of passengers and crew members was underway, head of the provincial search and rescue office said.

"Rescue operation is underway. Our personnel are attempting to rescue the crew and the passengers of the ship," Putu Sudayana told Xinhua by phone.

The ship, named Shantika Lestari, caught fire when it was sailing in the waters off Kupang city, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, according to Richard Pelt, a senior official of the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency.

The ship, which departed from a seaport in Kupang city, was heading to the Alor district of the province, he told Xinhua.

A video footage showed a huge black smoke appearing from the ship and passengers were wearing life jackets.