The tanker Elisabeth with 21 crew on board caught fire at Gili Tepekong in Bali's Karangasem district while traveling to West Nusa Tenggara province, police said.

A crew member said that when the tanker neared Gili Tepekong, an explosion occurred near the crew's living area. The chief officer found the helmsman lying on the deck with burns on his body, Karangasem police Chief Nengah Sadiarta said.

The tanker stopped moving and then a second explosion occurred, he said.

“After checking, it was found that there was a fire in the engine room. The crew gathered at the muster station, but there were five people who did not join and were found dead,” Sadiarta said.

Three crew members suffered serious burns and 12 others were being treated for minor injuries, he said. The captain was reported to be safe.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.