At least five people were killed and 41 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Madura Island on Sunday. According to official reports, the vessel identified as the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 was carrying 271 passengers and crew members when the disaster struck. Out of those on board, 225 people have been rescued so far, while large-scale search and rescue operations remain underway to locate the missing.
The ferry was traveling from Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya (East Java province) to Makassar (South Sulawesi) when the fire suddenly broke out. Emergency response teams and nearby commercial ships were immediately deployed to the area to assist in the rescue efforts.
Authorities stated that they have yet to determine the exact cause of the blaze. Video footage shared by news outlets shows a large number of terrified passengers wearing yellow life jackets stranded on the vessel’s deck. Additional social media clips captured desperate individuals climbing down ropes and jumping overboard into the sea as massive flames and thick, dark plumes of smoke engulfed the upper decks of the ship. Search operations are being intensified to trace the remaining victims before dark.
Shamshad Ali is a New Delhi–based journalist with over six years of experience spanning breaking news writing, on-the-ground reporting, and editing. When he isn’t chasing headlines, Shamshad is usually exploring new destinations, discovering hidden culinary gems, and striking up conversations with strangers. Many of whom turn out to be great sources, and even better friends. He can be reached at shamshadali.dar@gmail.com.
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