(MENAFN) At least 10 people lost their lives Wednesday and dozens more were injured when an oil tanker undergoing maintenance erupted in flames in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province, according to media.

The blaze erupted aboard MT Federal II, which was in the midst of repairs at a shipyard in Batam city, located about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) by sea from Singapore.

Emergency responders, including fire crews and police, swiftly arrived to evacuate those trapped inside the vessel and bring the fire under control.

Local police chief Asep Syafrudin confirmed that “as of Wednesday afternoon, 10 workers were confirmed dead and 18 others were critically injured.”

He further stated, “The cause of the explosion is still under investigation,” noting that authorities are conducting a thorough probe at the scene.

The explosion sent thick smoke billowing over the industrial zone in western Batam, though officials have yet to determine its origin.

All victims worked for ASL Shipyard, a leading shipbuilding and repair firm in the area. Injured individuals were rushed to various hospitals across Batam for treatment.

This tragic fire marks the second fatal incident involving the Federal II vessel at the same shipyard this year; a previous accident in late June resulted in four worker deaths.

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