Kapal Tangki Meletup Di Selat Melaka

Malacca Strait(AP Photo)

Area officials recently warned that the area was being targeted by terrorists.

First adjunct inspector, Marton, team leader of the Bengkalis Marine Police Unit, told Antara News on Monday that "we heard from one of the operators of PT Pertamnina that a tanker has exploded in the Malacca Strait waters at the border between Bengkalis and Tanjung Balais Asahan."

He added that according to the information he received, the incident occurred at around 10 p.m. local time in Indonesia.

Marton added that he could not confirm the location of the incident or possible victims just yet. Dozens of personnel from the Marine Police Unit of Bengkalis were leaving for the location with two boats.

Marton told Antara News that the explosion was huge with the flame could be seen from a radius of 10 kilometers. Back on March 4, the Singapore navy warned oil tankers traveling along the 805 km stretch of water that terrorists were planning an attack.

An advisory told reporters that "the terrorists' intent is probably to achieve widespread publicity and showcase that it remains a viable group."