A Malaysian was killed while five others missing after a fire broke out on board a methanol tanker early Thursday morning near the docking area of the federal territory of Labuan, an island off Malaysia's east peninsula Sabah state, authorities said.

Vessel operator, Malaysia International Shipping Corporation said a fire broke out onboard its 38,000 DWT IMO II chemical/palm oil tanker, Bunga Alpinia.

Maritime enforcement officers told Xinhua one body has been recovered while five others were missing.

The ship has 29 crew members, of which six were Filipinos.

Sources told Xinhua that the fire broke out after an explosion.

Labuan's fire department confirmed that the accident happened around 2:30 a.m. but declined to provide further details as rescue work is ongoing.

The vessel, believed to be carrying liquefied natural gas, was alongside a Methanol terminal owned by Malaysia's state oil company Petronas when the incident took place.