Indonesian police arrest ferry captain after deadly fire

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The captain of an Indonesian tourist ferry that caught fire on New Year’s Day was arrested Tuesday for alleged negligence in a disaster that left at least 23 people dead, police said.

The Zahro Express was carrying at least 247 people, mostly Indonesians celebrating the New Year’s holiday, from Muara Angke port in northern Jakarta to the resort island of Tidung when it caught fire Sunday. A total of 224 passengers were rescued and 23 bodies have been recovered. Seventeen people are reported as missing.

The vessel’s captain, Mohamad Nali, was detained for questioning following the incident and was arrested on Tuesday, said the chief of Jakarta Maritime Police, Col. Hero Hendrianto Bachtiar.

He is accused of continuing to sail despite knowing that the number of passengers on the ferry far exceeded the 100 listed on the manifest, Hendrianto said.