6 dead as Indonesian ship catches fire

August 24, 2013 08:46 am | Updated 08:46 am IST - Jakarta

Rescuers were searching for seven people still missing after a ship caught fire off Indonesia’s Sumatra island, a disaster management official said on Saturday.

At least 184 people were rescued from the Express Bahari after it caught fire while sailing from Bangka island to Belitung island, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.

The fire was believed to have been caused by a burning cigarette thrown by a passenger, he said.

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