Malaysia

Luxury yacht goes up in flames in Pulau Gaya

Smoke from wreckage could be seen all the way from Kota Kinabalu

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 21 Aug 2021 1:53PM

Luxury yacht goes up in flames in Pulau Gaya
Fire on the vessel, which once ferried tourists around on scenic cruises, in Pulau Gaya this morning. – ESSAM ABDULLAH/The Vibes pic, August 21, 2021

by Essam Abdullah

KOTA KINABALU – A luxury yacht that once offered cruises for tourists caught fire near Pulau Gaya here today.
  
In the 9.20am incident, the vessel was sailing from Kg Torong Logong when it suddenly caught fire.
  
Residents nearby helped douse the flames before the Fire and Rescue Department team’s arrival.  

Heavy smoke from the wreckage could be seen billowing all the way from the state capital here, about 6km away from the site.

Smoke billowing from the wreckage as Fire and Rescue Department teams attempt to put the flames out. – ESSAM ABDULLAH/The Vibes pic, August 21, 2021
Smoke billowing from the wreckage as Fire and Rescue Department teams attempt to put the flames out. – ESSAM ABDULLAH/The Vibes pic, August 21, 2021


  
A Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said an emergency call was received at 9.30am. 

A team then rushed to the location from Jesselton Jetty on a marine police boat.

The fire was brought under control at 10.37am.  

“Almost 90% of the boat was destroyed by the fire and no casualties were reported,” he told The Vibes today.

The cause of the fire and estimated losses are still under investigation by the department’s forensic unit. – The Vibes, August 21, 2021

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