Semarang, ANTARA JATENG - As many as 16 fishing boats that were parked in Juwana river channel in Pati District, Central Java, were burned down.
The fire damaged all the fishing boats as there was no means of dousing it, according to Amat, one of ship`s owners, here on Saturday.
He estimated that the fire caused hundreds of billions of losses and injured seven people.
"Initial report stated that 14 fishing boats had caught fire," public relations officer of the Central Java provincial police, Senior Commissioner, Djarod Padakova, noted, adding that the fire allegedly occurred as a result of some welding work in one of the boats.
Rohim further remarked that the welding work in an engine room caused the fire at 01.15 p.m. local time and spread to other nearby ships.
"Sensing the danger, I quickly moved the ship, which I used to operate, to a safe place," he stated.