A passenger ferry carrying at least 250 people caught fire off Madura Island in Indonesia on Saturday, killing five people and leaving 41 others missing, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency.
The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 was travelling from Surabaya in East Java province to Makassar in South Sulawesi province when the captain reported the fire. The agency, known as Basarnas, said the blaze broke out between 06:00 and 07:00 local time.
Rescuers received notification of the incident at 08:24. Basarnas later reported that the vessel was almost entirely engulfed in flames, with passengers gathered at the bow and bridge waiting for help.
Video published by local media showed thick black smoke and fire consuming the upper section of the ship. Some passengers in life jackets jumped into the sea and were picked up by rescue vessels, while others were thrown life rings as they awaited evacuation.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. A search and rescue operation involving rescue boats and other emergency services remains ongoing, while authorities continue to verify the total number of people on board and the fate of those missing.
