A ferry caught fire Sunday off the coast of Jakarta, killing 23 people aboard. Officials have detained the ship's captain as well as some of its crew over accusations they abandoned the ship during the fire.
The Zahro Express was carrying over 200 people on a trip to a resort island for New Year's, CNN reported. An explosion hit the ship in the waters off of Thousand Islands, North Jakarta.
Marine police say 23 people died in the ensuing fire, with 17 injured and a like number of passengers still missing. Some 194 people survived the fire.
The ferry's captain was detained amid allegations of being the first to evacuate the ship, according to Antonius Tonny Budiono, director general for sea transportation at the Indonesian ministry of transport. Three other crew members were detained as well.
Early indications are that the ferry exploded after fire sparks caused by a short circuit in its engine had reached a fuel container.
