British tourists caught in fatal blast on board Bali ferry

Jamie Bullen15 September 2016

Several Brits are feared to have been injured after an explosion on a tourist ferry in Indonesia which claimed the lives of at least two people.

The packed tourist boat, known as the Gili Cat 2, was a short distance from shore when the blast occurred on board as it ferried tourists between Bali and the holiday island Lombok.

One Indonesian person died. There are conflicting reports over the nationality of the other victim, believed to be either German or Dutch.

Police in Bali said 13 people had been injured, including Brits, who were on board with fellow tourists from Portugal, Germany,France and Italy.

However, other reports said around 20 people had been wounded, according to officials.

Two people are believed to have died and 13 injured after the tourist boat blast, feared to have been caused by an exploding fuel tank

One passenger was carried from the scene with horrific injuries to her feet. A video posted on Facebook shows one man being stretchered into the back of an ambulance.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear at this stage but investigators dismissed suggestions it was a bomb. Early reports suggest the boat's fuel tank may have exploded.

Medics tend to the injured after the explosion on board a passenger ferry
@9NewsAUS

Police chief Sugeng Sudarso told the AFP News Agency: “The explosion happened five minutes after the boat departed. One female passenger died from head injuries

“Based on the testimony [from passengers] and from what I saw on the scene, the explosion came from the fuel tank.

“Above it was a battery, maybe there was a short circuit that affected the fuel tank.”

According to a document seen by News Corp Australia, 13 Brits were on board the boat along with nationals from Austria, France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Emergency response: Authorities were called to the Gili Cat 2 following an explosion
AFP/Getty Images

Police are understood to be questioning the boat's captain.

Tour boat horror: A seriously injured tourist is carried away for treatment after the explosion on board

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are providing consular assistance to British nationals affected by an explosion on a ferry off the coast of Bali.”

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