Rescuers search for 28 missing after ferry catches fire in Indonesia's Madura island
Indonesian rescuers are continuing the search for 28 people still missing on Monday after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Madura island, an official said.
Indonesian rescuers are still searching for 28 people who remain missing after a ferry caught fire off Madura island on Sunday, according to an official. The KM Mutiara Sentosa, carrying 271 passengers, was en route from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi when the incident occurred. Of the 28 missing, five have been confirmed dead, while 238 have been rescued.
East Java police director Arman Asmara Syarifuddin disclosed that seven boats, including a naval corvette and speed boats, along with a patrol boat, have been deployed to aid in the search. The rescue operation will span seven days, potentially extending to 14 days. The cause of the fire remains unknown. All rescued individuals were evacuated to Surabaya's Port of Gapura Surya Nusantara on Monday.
Families of the victims had been anxiously awaiting news at the port since Sunday evening, with some, like Ria, still unable to confirm her uncle's condition. Despite being a crucial transportation mode in Indonesia, ferry safety is often subpar, leading to a relatively high frequency of accidents.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
