North Maluku. North Maluku gubernatorial candidate Benny Laos has been confirmed dead following a speedboat fire that occurred while he and his entourage were aboard.

Cecilia Octavia Mbotengu, Head of Bobong Regional Hospital in Pulau Taliabu Regency, confirmed Laos' death at 5:20 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT) despite the medical team’s efforts.

“All the medical staff did their best to treat Benny Laos, but at 5:20 p.m., the attending doctors declared him deceased,” Mbotengu told Beritasatu.com during a phone call from Ternate on Saturday.

Head of the Taliabu Health Department Kurasia Marsaoly reported that a total of 25 survivors were evacuated and treated, but six people, including Laos, died.

Earlier, Fathurahman, Head of the Ternate Search and Rescue Agency (SAR), explained that the speedboat, named Bela-72, caught fire while refueling at Bobong Regional Port in Pulau Taliabu at around 2:05 p.m. local time on Saturday.

The boat carried 40 passengers, including Benny Laos and his running mate Sabrin Sehe, along with campaign staff, former officials from Pulau Taliabu Regency, the boat crew, and police officers who served as security escorts.

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