A blaze on an Indonesian passenger ferry leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing

A passenger ferry operating in Indonesian waters experienced a devastating fire on Sunday morning, resulting in a minimum of five fatalities and dozens of people still unaccounted for, according to initial reports from the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS). The vessel, carrying 271 individuals, included 232 passengers and 39 crew members, was en route from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi, when the fire erupted between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. The incident occurred off Sumenep Regency, in the waters of Madura Island.

The ferry operator, PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, notified the Surabaya search and rescue office about the fire approximately an hour after it began, but lost contact with the vessel shortly thereafter. By 9:45 a.m., authorities confirmed the ferry's location to be roughly 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi Island, based on information received from a nearby cargo ship, Meratus Project 3, which was unable to approach the burning ferry due to its hazardous cargo.

Initial footage released by BASARNAS depicted thick black smoke emanating from one side of the ferry, rapidly spreading across a significant portion of the ship. Social media and messaging platforms were flooded with videos showing passengers, primarily in life jackets, huddled on the deck and upper sections of the vessel, awaiting rescue.

Some individuals were seen jumping into the sea as flames and thick smoke billowed from the burning ferry. By 10 a.m., rescue teams, comprising a tugboat and another passing vessel, began evacuating passengers, with the fire reportedly engulfing a large portion of the ferry, with survivors gathered on the bridge and bow.