Indonesia ferry fire: At least 23 dead after flames engulf vessel off tourist island

More than a dozen people are thought to be missing following the tragedy

The ferry was travelling from Muara Angke Port (pictured) to Tidung when the blaze broke out shortly after the journey began. File photo. (Photo: Wibowo Djatmiko, Wiki Commons)

At least 23 people have died after a ferry caught fire near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, officials have said.

The vessel was carrying around 200 people when it became engulfed in flames which gutted half of the ship. 17 others are missing, according to officials.

At least 10 people have been taken to hospital for medical treatment for injuries sustained, while some 98 people were reported to have been rescued.

Authorities and rescue workers were still searching for those who remained unaccounted for.

The incident occurred during a trip from the port of Muara Angke to Tidung, a resort island in the Kepulauan Seribu chain which is also known as The Thousand Islands.

A spokesperson for Thousand Islands Police said the fire was caused by a short circuit on a power generator on the boat.

It is believed to have happened soon after the trip began.