A tragic incident occurred on November 7 at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor, where a fire broke out on the container ship MSC Kyparissia, resulting in the deaths of three crew members and injuries to three others. The fire was reported at 12:23 PM, triggering an immediate response from the State Fire and Rescue Department.
Operations commander Mohamad Anuar Mohamad Amdzah stated that firefighters arrived on the scene just seven minutes after the emergency call. The blaze originated in the under-hatch section of Block 5 while containers were being unloaded. Tragically, the deceased crew members included a 59-year-old Malaysian, a Filipino man in his 40s, and a British national also in his 40s.
Among the injured were a 26-year-old Malaysian and two additional Filipino men, also in their 40s. The injured crew members were promptly transported to a private hospital in Iskandar Puteri for treatment.
Initial firefighting efforts were undertaken by the PTP Fire and Rescue team, utilizing two tugboats to combat the flames. Mohamad Anuar confirmed that a forward control post has been established, and operations are ongoing in collaboration with the PTP to manage the situation. The incident not only highlights the dangers associated with maritime operations but also underscores the swift response of emergency services in addressing such critical situations.
