Surabaya, Indonesia – An Indonesian ferry caught fire at sea on Sunday, resulting in at least five deaths and leaving 41 passengers missing, according to search and rescue officials. The vessel, which was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi, was carrying a total of 271 people, of whom 225 have been rescued. The regional Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency provided the updated figures, noting that some passengers had jumped overboard and were picked up by a nearby ship.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported that the captain had contacted the ferry company to report the fire, but had not been in contact since. Four other vessels in the area were on standby but could not approach the burning ferry due to the risk posed by flammable materials on board. A larger rescue operation was dispatched from Surabaya, a six-hour journey from the disaster site, to assist with the evacuation efforts.
Muhammad Masyhud, a senior official at the Ministry of Transportation, emphasized that passenger and crew safety is the top priority. “We are continuously coordinating with all relevant parties to ensure that the evacuation process can proceed quickly, safely, and effectively,” he stated. Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, often due to lax safety standards and unpredictable weather. Last month, a ferry carrying over 70 people sank near Selayar, resulting in four deaths and 14 others still missing. The latest tragedy underscores the ongoing challenges of maritime safety in the region.
