Ferry Fire Off Indonesia Leaves 5 Dead, Dozens Missing as Passengers Jump Into Sea

At least five people were killed and 41 others are missing after a passenger ferry caught fire Sunday morning near Madura Island in Indonesia. A large-scale rescue operation was launched, evacuating hundreds of passengers and crew members from the burning vessel with help from rescue teams and nearby boats.<\/p>

The ferry Mutiara Sentosa 2 left the port of Surabaya in eastern Java en route to Makassar, carrying 271 people — 232 passengers and 39 crew members. According to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, the fire broke out between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. as the ferry was sailing near the northern tip of Madura Island.<\/p>

Authorities said the ferry operator notified the Surabaya search-and-rescue office about an hour after the incident began. The company said it received a message from the ferry’s captain that the vessel had caught fire near the northern tip of Madura Island, but communication with him was lost shortly afterward. Authorities were only able to pinpoint the ferry’s exact location at 9:45 a.m.<\/p>

Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed the scale of the disaster. Black smoke and flames engulfed large sections of the ferry, while many passengers — most wearing life jackets — were seen crowding the deck and higher areas of the vessel as they waited to be rescued. Other videos shared on social media and messaging groups showed terrified passengers, some of whom jumped into the water as the fire and smoke continued to spread.<\/p>

According to reports, nearly the entire ferry was engulfed in flames at one point, while passengers who remained aboard gathered near the bridge and the bow. Shortly before 10:00 a.m., a tugboat and another vessel passing through the area arrived and began evacuating passengers. By the afternoon, vessels operating in the area had rescued 225 passengers and crew members. At the same time, five bodies were recovered from the water, while at least 41 people remain missing and the search for them continues.<\/p>

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is under investigation by authorities. Search-and-rescue teams from Surabaya also dispatched dedicated vessels to the area, though they are expected to take about six hours to reach the scene. One rescue boat that was sent out was forced to return to shore because of rough seas and high waves. The Indonesian Navy also joined the rescue effort, sending a warship to assist with the operation.<\/p>

The ferry, which is 160 meters long and 25 meters wide, regularly operates the route between Surabaya and Makassar — a journey that typically takes about 40 hours and is used mainly to transport passengers and cargo between the islands of Java and Sulawesi.<\/p>