JAKARTA - Eight people were killed and four others injured when a fire took place in a passenger ship at a seaport in Surabaya, capital of East Java on Wednesday morning, rescuer and port officials said.

The fire on the Kirana Sembilan ship occurred on Wednesday morning. The ship was burned down, which triggered panic among the passengers and they immediately rushed out of the ship, Head of the Search and Rescue Office in East Java who goes with single name Sutrisno told Xinhua by phone.

"Eight people were killed and four others wounded after being trodden by others during the escape from the ship," official at the Tanjung Perak seaport Pangestuti told Xinhua by phone.

She said that the accident took place at about six o'clock local time when the ship was still in the seaport before departure.

The head of the rescue office said that the fire had been put out.

Taking ship is a favorite transport means in the archipelago country with over 17,500 islands, but accident frequently happens due to the lacking of safety standards.