Twelve Drown After Indonesian Ship Catches Fire At Sea

JAKARTA, Aug 15 (AFP) - Twelve people drowned after a boat carrying 45 people caught fire at sea off the coast of northern Indonesia, police said Sunday.
The vessel left Bitung port in North Sulawesi province on Friday bound for the coastal village of Posingon some 173 kilometers (107 miles) southwest when a blaze broke out mid way, police sergeant Master Muginte said.
The accident happened after crew attempted to repair a broken engine while at sea some six kilometers from Belang, 75 kilometers southwest of Bitung on Friday, Muginte said.
The fire sparked panic on board and all the passengers and crew jumped into the sea. Twenty-five passengers and eight crewmen were rescued by fishing boats while 12 others drowned.
The captain of the boat, called the Farleno 01, and his crew have been detained for questioning, Muginte said.