国际英语新闻:32 seriously injured as ferry catches fire in waters off Jakarta, Indonesia

JAKARTA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- As many as 32 people suffering from serious wounds have been rushed to hospitals after a ferry caught fire on its engine Wednesday in waters off Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, an official said here.

The accident occurred at midday when the ferry sailing from Muara Angke port in Jakarta, was about to arrive at Gusung Sekati island, still near the capital, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency said.

"As many as 32 people suffer from serious injury and are being treated at a nearby hospital at Pramuka island," he told Xinhua over phone, referring to an island not far from Gusung Sekati island.

A total of 79 people were on board, including the captain, 11 crew members and 67 passengers, according to him.

Prior to the accident, 47 passengers had already exited from the ship at two other islands, said Sutopo. Police are investigating the cause of the accident, he said. Ferry is a favorite transport means in the archipelago country, but lack of safety standard has often caused accidents in the sea.