Fire breaks out off Madura Island
The passenger ferry Mutiara Santosa 2 caught fire on Sunday while sailing in waters off Madura Island, near the main island of Java. Smoke was seen billowing from the vessel as crew and passengers tried to escape. At least five people have been confirmed dead. Rescuers said an unknown number of passengers remained missing, and some reports put the figure in the dozens.
The ferry was carrying hundreds of people when the fire began. Many passengers jumped overboard to escape the flames. Survivors described drifting in the water for hours before rescue teams arrived. Some were picked up by fishing boats and navy vessels that joined the operation.
Rescue operation brings survivors to Surabaya
Indonesian rescuers, including teams from the national search and rescue agency BASARNAS, worked through Sunday night and into Monday. More than 220 people were rescued and brought to Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province. Medical teams treated survivors at the port, and the Indonesian Navy's 2nd Fleet pier was used to receive victims.
Officials said the search would continue until they were confident no one else was in the water. The number of missing has been hard to pin down because passenger lists were not fully verified before the ferry departed, a common problem on busy domestic routes.
Questions over ferry safety
The cause of the fire has not been established. Investigators are looking at the ship's electrical systems and engine room as possible starting points. Ferries are a lifeline in Indonesia, a country of more than 17,000 islands where most people move by sea. Deadly ferry accidents have occurred repeatedly over the years, and safety standards on older vessels have drawn criticism from transport experts. Authorities have promised a full investigation into the Mutiara Santosa 2 fire and said they would review safety rules for vessels on the busiest routes.