SURABAYA, Indonesia – A passenger ferry caught fire in Indonesian waters on Sunday, killing at least five people and leaving dozens missing as rescue teams searched for survivors.
The Mutiara Sentosa 2 was carrying 271 people—232 passengers and 39 crew members—on a scheduled voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi when the fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
Emergency crews, commercial vessels and the Indonesian Navy joined a large-scale rescue operation as flames spread across much of the ferry.
Distress Call Triggers Rescue Operation
Basarnas said ferry operator PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran notified the Surabaya search and rescue office about an hour after the fire started.
The company reported receiving a distress call from the ferry’s captain, who said the vessel was on fire near the northern coast of Madura Island before communications were lost.
Authorities later identified the ferry’s position about 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi Island after contacting the nearby cargo ship Meratus Project 3. However, the cargo vessel could not approach because it was transporting flammable cargo.
Images released by Basarnas showed thick black smoke rising from the ship. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show passengers wearing life jackets as they waited for help. Some were seen jumping into the sea while the fire spread.
A tugboat and another passing vessel began evacuating passengers shortly before 10 a.m., after the ferry had become heavily engulfed in flames.
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Hundreds Rescued as Search Continues
By Sunday afternoon, rescuers had saved 225 passengers and crew members and recovered five bodies, officials said.
At least 41 people remained missing.
Authorities said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigators have opened an inquiry.
Basarnas dispatched a rescue ship from Surabaya, although officials estimated it would take about six hours to reach the scene.
A rigid inflatable rescue boat launched from Sumenep was forced to return because of rough seas and high waves. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist with the search and rescue operation.
Ferry Serves Key Route Between Java and Sulawesi
The 160-meter (525-foot) Mutiara Sentosa 2 operates on the Surabaya–Makassar route, an important domestic ferry connection between the islands of Java and Sulawesi.
The voyage typically takes about 40 hours and transports both passengers and cargo.
Indonesia, which consists of more than 17,000 islands, depends heavily on ferry services to connect communities across the archipelago. Maritime accidents occur regularly, with investigators often citing weak enforcement of safety regulations as a contributing factor.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
