Jakarta, Aug 3 (dpa/GNA) – At least five people were killed and 41 others were missing, after the passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura Island in Indonesia on Sunday, authorities said.
A total of 225 people had been rescued by Sunday evening, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry was carrying 271 people, including 232 passengers and 39 crew members. The vessel was sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi, when the fire broke out in the Java Sea.
The captain informed the ferry operator of the incident before contact with the vessel was lost, local media reported.
Rescue teams later located the ferry about 19 nautical miles north of Buruan (Sapudi) Island. The operation involved personnel from Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy and nearby commercial vessels.
Several passengers jumped into the sea wearing life jackets as the fire spread through the vessel, according to officials. Rescue efforts were slowed by rough sea conditions.
Authorities said search operations were continuing for those still unaccounted for. The number of casualties could change as the operation progresses.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. An investigation is expected once emergency operations are completed.
GNA