On March 26, a fire broke out in the forecastle compartments of the tanker KRISTIN as it was on its way to anchor near Lombok Island in the Lombok Strait. Three crew members were handling the anchor on the forecastle at the time of the incident, and it is suspected that an explosion may have occurred prior to the fire. The tanker was carrying a load of fuel, and the fire was still ongoing as of 2130 LT.
Fourteen of the 17 crew members have been reported safe after abandoning the tanker. However, the three crew members who were on the forecastle reportedly jumped into the water and have gone missing. A search and rescue operation is currently underway, and the ship’s AIS is still active. Tugboats and two rescue ships have been dispatched to engage in firefighting and SAR operations. The tanker had arrived from Surabaya prior to the incident. No updates are currently available on the situation.
