By David Andreas
JAKARTA, Indonesia: At least five people have died, while 41 others remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire in the waters off northern Sumenep, Madura, Indonesia, on Sunday morning (Aug 2).
Surabaya Search and Rescue Office Chief, Nanang Sigit, said the KMP Mutiara Santosa 2, carrying 232 passengers and 39 crew members, caught fire while sailing from Surabaya to Makassar.
As of 4:00 pm local time, 225 passengers had been rescued.
He said his office received information about the incident at 8:24 am local time, and rescue operations were immediately launched to evacuate passengers and crew members.
“Most of the vessel was almost destroyed by the flames. Passengers gathered on the bridge and the front section of the ship while waiting for assistance,” he said in a statement.
Nanang said several passengers who reportedly jumped into the sea to save themselves had been rescued by nearby boats.
He said search and rescue operations, involving various agencies and the deployment of multiple assets and personnel, were ongoing to locate the remaining missing passengers.
He added that the cause of the ferry fire was still under investigation by the authorities. – BERNAMA
