{
  "id": 40852,
  "title": "A blaze on an Indonesian passenger ferry leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/a-blaze-on-an-indonesian-passenger-ferry-leaves-at-least-5-dead-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T11:53:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-sumenep-ferry-catches-fire-da71e9c734e8caacd07f83e3555e3382"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "An Indonesian passenger ferry, the Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire in waters off Madura Island on Sunday, resulting in at least five deaths and dozens of people missing. The ferry, carrying 271 passengers and 39 crew members, was en route from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi, when the fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Despite efforts by rescue teams and passing vessels to evacuate the passengers, dozens remain unaccounted for. The ferry operator reported the incident to the search and rescue office about an hour after it began, but contact was lost with the ship later. Thick black smoke billowed from the burning vessel, and terrified passengers were seen on the deck and upper sections awaiting rescue.",
  "key_points": [
    "Indonesian ferry catches fire, killing at least 5 people",
    "271 passengers and crew on board, 232 passengers",
    "Rescue teams evacuate passengers, fire engulfs ferry"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/40852.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "A blaze on an Indonesian passenger ferry leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/a-blaze-on-an-indonesian-passenger-ferry-leaves-at-least-5-dead-and",
        "published": "2026-08-03T04:06:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Antara News Indonesia",
        "title": "Indonesian govt assures smooth evacuation of ferry fire victims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/indonesian-govt-assures-smooth-evacuation-of-ferry-fire-victims",
        "published": "2026-08-03T10:24:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Unknown number of people missing after Indonesian ferry fire kills 5",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/unknown-number-of-people-missing-after-indonesian-ferry-fire-kills-5",
        "published": "2026-08-03T13:38:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}