Last MISC tanker fire victim found in vessel's holding tank

July 31, 2012

Last MISC tanker fire victim found in vessel's holding tank

31st July, 2012

LABUAN: The fifth and last victim of the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) owned MT Bunga Alpinia oil tanker fire last Thursday, was found in a holding tank of the scorched ship about 1.45 pm, yesterday.

According to the Labuan search and rescue team, the body of Mohammad Nazrin Khamsani, 20, from Kuala Lumpur, was found trapped in the flooded hold of the ship.

The team had launched their search for the last victim yesterday after the ship had been sufficiently cooled down to board.

The oil tanker had caught fire and exploded at the Petronas Chemicals Methanol Sdn Bhd jetty at the Rancha-Rancha industrial zone near Pulau Enoe in Labuan about 2.32 am, last Thursday.

The four other victims of the tragedy were Syahril Azmi Baharudin, 28, and Mohd Hanafi Khalil, 24, both from Melaka, Zahari Hassim, 46, from Negeri Sembilan and Filipino, Colanggoy Errol Calaluan, 22.

Labuan police chief, Supt Saiman Kasran, described the recovery of the last victim as the result of consolidated efforts by the police, fire and rescue, Peninsular Marine Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the villagers in the area.

“We hope the rescue operation is complete, with this last recovery,” he said.

Meanwhile, Labuan Search and Rescue Department director Zainal Madasin said the department’s participation had provided credibility to their capacity in handling marine operations involving chemicals.

Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Yussof Mahal conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families.

In a statement yesterday, MISC said that the industry experts it had engaged and the authorities were still working to contain the minor slick from Bunga Alpinia, to ensure the environment and surrounding communities were protected.

Commenting on speculation that the fire was caused by lightning, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd chief executive officer, Dr Abd Hapiz Abdullah said a thorough investigation would be carried out to ascertain the actual cause, as it involved the credibility of the Petronas Methanol Labuan jetty safety.