JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian search and rescue teams continued operations Monday for 28 people still missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Madura Island, killing at least five people and forcing hundreds of passengers to flee into the sea, authorities said.
The ferry, identified as KM Mutiara Sentosa, caught fire early Sunday while sailing from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi with 271 people on board, including passengers and crew. As of the latest official update, 238 people have been rescued, while five fatalities have been confirmed. Authorities warned that the number of people aboard could differ from the passenger manifest, raising concerns that additional passengers may have been traveling without being listed.
According to survivors, the blaze spread rapidly after flames erupted on the vessel’s lower deck, prompting many passengers to jump into the sea to escape thick smoke and intense heat. Some survivors said they remained in the water for several hours before being rescued by nearby vessels and emergency responders. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
The search operation has entered its second day, involving Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Navy, police, and maritime authorities. Rescue crews have deployed seven vessels, including a naval corvette and a large patrol boat, along with a helicopter to search an area spanning roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) around the site of the fire. Officials said the operation is expected to continue for at least seven days and could be extended if necessary.
All rescued passengers have been transported to Gapura Surya Nusantara Port in Surabaya, where they are receiving medical care and assistance. Authorities are also working to verify the passenger manifest after discrepancies emerged between the listed passengers and those believed to have boarded the ferry.
The vessel was reportedly carrying about 180 vehicles, most of them trucks, when the fire broke out. Investigators from Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee are expected to examine the vessel once conditions allow, while transportation officials have announced a review of the ferry operator’s safety procedures.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferry transport to connect communities. However, maritime accidents remain a recurring concern due to aging vessels, overcrowding, inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, and challenging weather conditions. The latest tragedy has renewed calls for stricter oversight and improved passenger safety across the country’s ferry.
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
