A massive fire broke out on a passenger ferry carrying 271 people—including passengers and crew—off the coast of Java, Indonesia’s main island. At least five people have died, and at least 41 remain missing. So far, 225 people have been rescued alive. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
On Sunday morning, the ferry, named Mutiara Sentosa-2, was en route from the city of Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi. There were 232 passengers and 39 crew members on board. Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported that the fire started in the waters off the Sumenep region between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM local time.
According to Basarnas, the ferry operator, PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, notified the Surabaya rescue office about the incident approximately one hour later. The company stated that although the captain had reported a fire on board near the northern tip of Madura Island, contact with him was subsequently lost.
Videos released by the rescue agency show thick black smoke billowing from one side of the ferry and engulfing the entire vessel. Footage circulating on social media shows panicked passengers wearing life jackets, gathered on the deck and upper levels of the ferry, awaiting rescue. As the fire and smoke spread rapidly, many passengers jumped into the sea to save their lives.
Authorities reported that the fire consumed most of the ferry. Subsequently, a tugboat and another nearby vessel arrived at the scene and began evacuating passengers. By Sunday afternoon, 225 people had been rescued alive, and five bodies had been recovered; however, at least 41 people remain unaccounted for.
A rescue vessel has been dispatched from Surabaya, although authorities stated that it would take approximately six hours to reach the scene. A high-speed vessel dispatched from the Sumenep rescue station was forced to turn back due to adverse weather and rough seas. Additionally, the Indonesian Navy has deployed a warship to assist in the rescue operations.
The ferry, measuring approximately 160 meters in length and 25 meters in width, regularly operates on the Surabaya-Makassar route. This journey, which takes about 40 hours, involves the transport of both passengers and cargo.
Ferry services are vital for Indonesia, a nation comprising over 17,000 islands. However, observers frequently point out that maritime and ferry accidents occur often in the country due to poor safety standards.
