Five people are confirmed dead and 41 remain missing after a ferry with 271 people aboard caught fire at sea on Sunday, according to search and rescue officials. The incident occurred while the ferry was traveling from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city in East Java, to Makassar in South Sulawesi. Agencies report that 225 passengers and crew have been rescued so far.
The captain of the vessel reported the fire as it sailed, prompting immediate rescue efforts. Nearby vessels, including TB Hasnur 26 and the British Mentor, have joined the operation to evacuate passengers who jumped from the burning ferry, KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2. Four ships are currently assisting alongside the ferry, as confirmed by Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office.
The search-and-rescue vessel SAR 249 Permadi is on its way to the scene, though it is expected to take approximately six hours to arrive. Rescue operations continue as hopes remain high for locating the missing individuals.
