A fuel boat Thursday afternoon caught ablaze, forcing the captain and five crew members to plunge overboard and escape a fiery death.

An eyewitness said the incident began with a loud explosion around 5 PM and up to 7PM efforts were being made to extinguish the fire by sinking the wooden vessel.

A boat equipped with a pump and hose was dousing the engine room with water in an effort to prevent the engine from exploding.

Speed boats were circling near the vessel, aimed at having the waves propel the boat in the middle of the Kaituma River. They fear that if the vessel remains close to the river bank, the vegetation can catch a fire.

The resident told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) that boat arrived on Friday from neighbouring Venezuela with an illegal consignment of diesel and gasoline.

The fuels had not been discharged yet as the 40-foot vessel was awaiting mooring space.

All those, who were aboard, are Guyanese. The vessel is also owned by Guyanese.