KUALA TERENGGANU: Seventy-nine passengers and crew members escaped unhurt after a fire erupted on a ferry heading towards the Taman Tamadun Islam (TTI) jetty here this afternoon.
Terengganu Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Khairulanuar Abd Majid said the agency received a report regarding the incident from the maritime rescue sub-centre in Kuantan at about 3pm.
“The ferry is believed to be travelling from Pulau Redang towards the TTI jetty when it caught fire near Pulau Bidong.
“Two MMEA assets were deployed to the scene,” he said when contacted.
Khairulanuar said all the victims involved were safely transferred to the TTI jetty.
“The fire destroyed the ferry. Its cause is still being investigated,” he said.
Several video clips of the incident also went viral on social media. Netizens said the smoke from the fire was visible a few kilometres from the scene.