A ferry traveling from Surabaya to Makassar caught fire at sea on Sunday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation for hundreds of passengers.
Key facts
- •The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 was carrying at least 250 people when the fire broke out.
- •The Surabaya Search and Rescue office received notification of the fire at 08:24 local time.
- •Passengers were seen in life jackets, with some jumping into the sea to be rescued by nearby ships.
- •Four vessels were unable to approach the burning ferry due to the risk of flammable materials.
- •The incident occurred off the coast of Madura island.
An Indonesian ferry, the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire at sea on Sunday while traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi. Five people have been confirmed dead, and 41 others remain missing after some passengers jumped overboard to escape the flames. According to the Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency, 225 people have been rescued so far.
By the numbers
Rescue and Emergency Response
The fire was reported to the shipping company by the captain between 06:00 and 07:00 local time. Basarnas, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, stated that the vessel was nearly engulfed in flames, with passengers gathering at the bridge and bow to await help. Footage showed passengers in life jackets evacuating the ship, with some jumping into the sea to be picked up by nearby vessels. Four ships remained on standby near the ferry but were unable to approach due to the danger posed by flammable materials on board. A larger rescue operation was deployed from Surabaya, which is approximately six hours away from the incident site near Madura island.
Ongoing Investigation
The cause of the fire remains unclear. Officials from the Ministry of Transportation stated that the safety of passengers and crew is the priority, with coordination efforts underway to ensure a swift evacuation. The captain has not been in contact with authorities since the initial report of the fire was made.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by South China Morning Post, BBC World, The Hindu.
