1 dead, 4 missing in Malaysian tanker fire

A tanker carrying methanol exploded Thursday while docked in Malaysia, leaving one person dead and four missing, officials said. Police said they believe the tanker, Bunga Alpinia, was struck by lightning, which started a fire about 3 a.m., local time, near the Petronas Methanol terminal in Labuan, The (Malaysian) Star reported. Police found the body of crewman Shahril Azmi Baharuddin, 28, floating in the sea at about 10 a.m., Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officer Awil Kamsari said. Twenty-four of the crew members comprised of Malaysians and Filipinos were brought ashore; four were still missing, he added.