Two seafarers have been critically injured in a deck explosion and fire on a Grolite Shipping tanker in Malaysia.

The Star Online reported that the accident occurred on the 6,500-dwt Dongfang Glory (built 2010) on Tuesday morning in Sg Belawai.

The injured men, from Indonesia, suffered burns.

Fire authorities said the tanker was anchored for maintenance at the time.

"There were 17 crew members in the vessel and five from Berjaya Dockyard who were there to carry out maintenance work," a spokesman added.