SURABAYA — The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry caught fire on Sunday while traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi. At least five people died in the incident and forty-one people remain unaccounted for.

The vessel was carrying 271 people, including 232 passengers and 39 crew members, when the emergency began. Two hundred twenty-five passengers and crew were rescued by Sunday afternoon following a multi-agency response.

The fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. in waters off Sumenep regency. The ferry operator PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran reported the incident to the Surabaya search and rescue office about an hour after the fire started.

The ferry captain reported the vessel was on fire near the northern tip of Madura island before contact was lost. Madura Island is an island in East Java Province, Indonesia, and Surabaya is a city in the same province.

Authorities determined the ferry was about 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi island by 9:45 a.m. Search and rescue teams dispatched a rescue vessel from Surabaya estimated to take about six hours to reach the scene.

A rigid inflatable boat from the Sumenep rescue post was sent toward the location but returned to shore due to rough seas and high waves. The Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist in the rescue operation.

The cargo vessel Meratus Project 3 communicated with authorities but was unable to approach the burning ferry closely because it was carrying a flammable load. A tugboat and another passing vessel began evacuating passengers shortly before 10 a.m.

Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed thick black smoke billowing from the ferry. Videos circulating on social media showed passengers wearing life jackets clustered on the deck and upper sections of the vessel.

Some passengers were seen jumping into the sea as flames and smoke billowed from the vessel. The ferry is 160 meters (525 feet) long and 25 meters (82 feet) wide.

The Surabaya-Makassar voyage typically takes around 40 hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation and was not immediately known.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries are a common method of travel. The incident shows the risks associated with maritime transport in a nation where waterways serve as critical infrastructure for connecting distant regions.

The scale of the response involved multiple agencies, including the navy and local search and rescue posts, reflecting the logistical challenges of operating in remote waters. The status of the 41 unaccounted for individuals remains unresolved as investigations into the cause continue.

Why It Matters

With 41 people still unaccounted for out of 271 on board, the incident shows the lethal risks facing travelers in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands where ferries serve as a primary transport method. The fire disrupted a critical 40-hour connection between East Java and South Sulawesi, demonstrating how maritime accidents can sever essential links between distant regions. Rough seas and distance complicated rescue efforts, leaving dozens missing while authorities investigate the cause.