Video: Indonesian Product Tanker Explodes

[Brief] The product tanker Nona Tang II exploded on Wednesday at the Port of Batu Ampar, Batam, Indonesia, sending a shock wave that could be heard for miles. 

One worker was killed in the blast and three were injured. Bystanders said that the deceased was thrown for dozens of meters by the force of the explosion. 

The Indonesian Coast Guard responded with vessels with firefighting monitors. Four fire engines from the local government joined the effort, and they managed to put out the fire within a short period of time. 

Gali Ramadani / Indonesian Coast Guard

The blast may have been sparked by welding work on the topsides, but Riau Islands Police chief Brig Sam Budigusdian told local TV news that investigators are still debriefing the ship's crew to learn the exact cause of the blast. He added that the police would be closely examining the vessel's documents and certifications. 

The vessel's IMO number is visible in photos of her stern, and it corresponds to the 1971-built product tanker Istana V. She is flagged and owned in Indonesia; her class status was withdrawn prior to 2016, according to her record in Equasis.