An Indonesian cargo ship, the Legenda Nusantara699, caught fire on Monday, leading to a catastrophic blaze that authorities suspect was caused by a chemical leak from its cargo. This incident resulted in severe chemical poisoning for two crewmembers and the captain. The 78-meter vessel, built in 2019, was primarily engaged in transporting goods between Indonesian islands and had a deadweight tonnage of 699.
The ship had departed from Jakarta, loaded with unidentified chemical cargo and heavy equipment, and was en route to Morowali in Southeast Sulawesi when the fire broke out around 1:00 AM on August 31. Eyewitness reports and photographs depict the vessel engulfed in flames. With 13 crewmembers on board, they were quickly transferred to the cement and cargo carrier KBR Benua Dua before being moved to a coastal patrol boat for safety.
Tragically, a 22-year-old oiler died before reaching shore, while a 42-year-old second officer succumbed to his injuries at a regional hospital. The captain, also 42, was hospitalized due to severe chemical poisoning. The ship was ultimately declared a total loss, as images showed it capsized the following morning.
