Unknown number of people missing after Indonesian ferry fire kills 5

On Monday, rescuers in Indonesia searched for any missing passengers after a ferry caught fire and sank off the coast of Java, leaving at least five people dead. The ferry, named Mutiara Sentosa 2, was en route from Surabaya on Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi when the fire ignited between 6am and 7am on Sunday. Initial reports estimated the ferry was carrying 271 people, including 39 crew members.

However, officials later reported that the actual number of passengers could be considerably higher, leaving the exact number of missing individuals unclear.

Rescuers pulled 231 people from the water, with many describing jumping overboard to escape the flames and staying afloat for hours before rescue. The fire reportedly started in a truck on the lower vehicle deck, quickly spreading through the vessel. Survivors described the situation as dire, with the fire consuming the ship within 30 minutes of its ignition.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Indonesian navy ships and other passing vessels assisted in the rescue efforts, which took place about 35km (22 miles) north of Sapudi island in the Sumenep regency. The ferry was also transporting 180 vehicles, primarily trucks.

Ahmad Abdul Karim, a survivor, recalled that the fire seemed to have originated in a truck on the lower vehicle deck. He said that the flames spread rapidly, driven by the wind, and within minutes, everyone was instructed to move to the bow of the ferry. Another survivor, Azhari, recounted how many passengers had only just woken up when the fire broke out, apparently near the rear of the vessel.

He described how the fire quickly engulfed the middle of the ship, leaving no other option for them but to jump into the sea. Survivors were in the water for approximately four hours before rescue boats began pulling them to safety.

The ferry, built in Japan in 1992 and sold to Indonesia in 2015, can accommodate 689 passengers, 49 crew members, and up to 181 vehicles. The Mutiara Sentosa 2 operates on the Surabaya-Makassar route, a voyage that typically takes around 40 hours. This route is primarily used by domestic travelers and cargo transport between Java and Sulawesi islands.

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, regularly experiences ferry disasters. Weak safety enforcement is often cited as a contributing factor to these unfortunate incidents.