JAKARTA – Indonesian authorities on Tuesday concluded rescue operations following a deadly ferry fire off Madura Island, confirming that five people were killed after emergency teams successfully evacuated 233 passengers and crew from the burning vessel, the national search and rescue agency said.
The ferry, KM Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire on Sunday while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi, one of Indonesia’s busiest inter-island routes. Authorities said the vessel had 238 people on board, including passengers and crew, when the blaze broke out near Madura Island in the Java Sea.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said the rescue mission had been completed after all those believed to have been aboard the ferry were accounted for. Five fatalities were confirmed, while the remaining 233 people were rescued and brought safely to shore.
During the emergency, dozens of passengers abandoned the burning vessel by jumping into the sea while nearby ships, the Indonesian Navy, coast guard units, and rescue teams rushed to assist. Several survivors were treated for injuries and smoke inhalation after being taken to Surabaya’s Port of Gapura Surya Nusantara.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire. Investigators are examining the vessel and interviewing crew members and survivors to establish how the blaze started. Initial witness accounts cited by the Associated Press suggested the fire may have originated from a truck on the vehicle deck before rapidly spreading, although officials have not confirmed that account.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over maritime safety in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries are a primary means of transportation for millions of people. The country has experienced numerous deadly ferry accidents over the years, often linked to overcrowding, aging vessels, inadequate safety enforcement, and rough weather conditions.
The Indonesian government is expected to review the circumstances surrounding the incident as part of its investigation, while maritime safety experts have called for stricter inspections, improved emergency preparedness, and stronger enforcement of passenger and cargo regulations to help prevent similar disasters.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
