Indonesia Ferry Blaze
Ferry Fire Off Indonesia Leaves Five Dead, 41 Missing as Rescue Operations Continue
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By Sunday afternoon, approximately 225 people had been rescued, out of the 271 passengers and crew who were aboard the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 when the fire broke out.
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Rescue operations involved a precise roster of vessels, including KN SAR 249 Permadi, a Surabaya SAR Office rescue boat, a Sumenep SAR post vessel, a Surabaya Harbormaster vessel, a Surabaya Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) vessel, and additional support from SROP Kalianget, KSOP Kalianget, Meratur Project 3, and TB Hasnur 26.
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The ferry was located about 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi Island, in waters off Sumenep, East Java, at coordinates 06°30'64" S, 114°00'19" E.
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Assistance in evacuations also came from a merchant vessel and a tug, with the British Mentor and TB Hasnur 26 joining the effort, alongside the SAR vessel Permadi as it moved toward the scene.
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The fire was reported several hours into the voyage, with initial captain reports suggesting the blaze occurred between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., and the first formal notification to search and rescue at 8:24 a.m.
A passenger ferry carrying 271 people burst into flames off Indonesia's Madura Island on Sunday, killing at least five and leaving 41 missing, according to SBS News. The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 was en route from Surabaya to Makassar when the blaze broke out early in the morning.
By Sunday afternoon, around 225 people had been rescued, TRT World reported. Thick smoke poured from the vessel as some passengers jumped into the sea to escape the fire. Rescue teams and nine vessels rushed to the scene.
Fire Breaks Out Hours Into the Voyage
The captain first reported the fire between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. local time. Search and rescue teams received their first formal alert at 8:24 a.m., according to Mirror. The ferry was located about 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi Island, in waters off Sumenep, East Java.
Video footage showed passengers in life jackets crowding the deck as smoke billowed around them. Some jumped into the open sea rather than wait for rescue boats. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Yahoo News reported.
Nine Vessels Join the Search and Rescue Push
Authorities sent a large fleet to the scene. Rescue ships included the KN SAR 249 Permadi, a Surabaya SAR Office rescue boat, and vessels from the Sumenep SAR post, the Surabaya Harbormaster, and the Surabaya Vessel Traffic Service. Support also came from SROP Kalianget, KSOP Kalianget, Meratur Project 3, and TB Hasnur 26.
A merchant vessel called the British Mentor also joined the effort, alongside the tug TB Hasnur 26. Police personnel assisted with the operation. Authorities coordinated with maritime agencies to manage the large-scale crisis, SBS News reported.
Five Confirmed Dead, Search Continues for 41 Missing
Indonesia's search and rescue agency confirmed five deaths, SBS News reported. Of the 271 passengers and crew on board, 225 had been pulled to safety by Sunday afternoon. That left 41 people still unaccounted for as rescue teams kept searching.
Officials have not said whether the 41 missing were still in the water or untracked after evacuation. Rescue operations were still ongoing as authorities continued their search. Investigators have begun looking into what caused the fire, though no findings have been released.
Indonesia's Troubled Record With Ferry Safety
Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. Ferries are a key way for millions of people to travel between them. But the country has a long history of deadly ferry accidents, often linked to overcrowding, poor maintenance, and rough seas.
The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 fire adds to that grim record. Authorities have not yet said whether the vessel was carrying more passengers than allowed. An investigation is underway, TRT World reported, but no results are expected soon.
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