Five dead, 41 missing after Indonesia ferry catches fire

At least five people have died and 41 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire while sailing off

At least five people have died and 41 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire while sailing off Indonesia’s Madura Island, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation.

According to Indonesian authorities, the ferry was carrying at least 250 passengers and crew when the blaze erupted during its voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi.

The captain alerted rescue authorities after the fire broke out early in the morning. Within hours, emergency teams launched a major operation involving rescue vessels and other maritime agencies to evacuate passengers from the burning ship.

Officials said the fire rapidly spread across the ferry, leaving much of the vessel engulfed in flames. Many passengers gathered at the bow and bridge while waiting for help, while others were forced to jump into the sea to escape the intense heat and thick smoke.

Videos circulating on local media showed heavy black smoke rising from the ferry as passengers wearing life jackets crowded onto lifeboats. Other footage captured desperate scenes of people entering the water as rescue teams threw lifebuoys and pulled survivors aboard nearby vessels.

Search and rescue teams have so far recovered five bodies and rescued a large number of passengers. However, 41 people are still unaccounted for, and the operation continues with authorities searching the surrounding waters.

Officials said emergency crews responded immediately after receiving the distress call and continue to coordinate efforts to locate the missing. Medical teams are also providing treatment to survivors rescued from the sea.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Maritime authorities have launched an investigation to establish how the blaze started and whether any safety violations contributed to the incident.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, depends heavily on ferry transport for inter-island travel.