KM Kirana IX Fire
The 119 meter long, 1309 dwt ferry KM Kirana IX caught fire while docked in Surabaya, Java, Indonesia. The KM Kirana IX had over 500 passengers on board when a truck overheated and caught fire. Passengers on board stampeded towards the exit gate while others jumped overboard into the water. The crew did attempt to calm the passengers, but eight people perished in the panic and were trampled. Reports state many passengers were taken to hospital. Damage to the KM Kirana IX was limited to just the truck and small section of the vessel’s deck. The crew was able to quickly extinguish the blaze before any serious damage occurred. The KM Kirana IX was built in 1983 with the capacity of 850 passengers. The ferry was scheduled to sail to Kalimantan, Borneo.
