Indian tanker catches fire off Malaysia, one feared dead

KUALA LUMPUR: An Indian-owned tanker headed to Bangladesh with 23 onboard caught fire in Malaysian waters, with one sailor feared dead, a maritime official said Monday.

The fire that broke out late Sunday in the engine room had now been contained, said western Johor state maritime enforcement chief Aminuddin Abdul Rashid.

"One crew member who was working in the engine room is unaccounted for and
we believe he is dead," he told.

he Indian-owned tanker MT Samudera -- carrying 23 Indian nationals -- was heading to Chittagong from the Indonesian island of Batam.

"The tanker ship which usually carries fuel oil was not carrying any cargo. We rescued 22 crew members," Aminuddin said.

"The tanker is not a threat to passing ships because it is outside the busy Malacca Strait," he said, adding there was no immediate danger of the ship sinking.