Update: 2 More Bodies Found in Chemical Tanker Explosion, Fire

MISC Berhad, the owner and operator of the Malaysia-flagged Bunga Alpinia, has confirmed that another two bodies have been recovered in the waters near the vessel that exploded and caught fire after a lightning strike. Identities of the two bodies have yet to be confirmed.

The fire onboard the tanker has been contained and currently, further cooling efforts onboard are ongoing. The Labuan Fire & Rescue Department will conduct an assessment of the vessel before authorizing a search effort to be conducted onboard for the missing two crew members.

The first identified deceased crewmember found yesterday is Malaysian, Shahril Azmi Bin Baharudin, a Greaser onboard Bunga Alpinia. MISC is providing all assistance possible to the families of the deceased and the now two missing crew members.

In the meantime, MISC has mobilized industry experts to support the Malaysian authorities in ensuring the continued protection of the environment, vessel and community surrounding the area. MISC is also cooperating fully with the authorities in relation to the investigations.

Original Report: 1 Dead, Others Missing After Chemical Tanker Explosion

Caption: An explosion and fire, reportedly the result of a lightning strike, engulfed the Malaysian International Shipping Company (MISC)-owned, 38,000 DWT IMO II chemical/palm oil tanker, Bunga Alpinia, while inport Labuan, Malaysia. The fire broke out at approximately 2.30am (local time) while the vessel was loading methanol at the PETRONAS Chemicals Methanol Sdn Bhd terminal in Labuan. Most likely lost or scrapped at this point. [Credit: http://www.marinetraffic.com]