Tragic Ferry Fire in Indonesia Claims Five Lives, Dozens Missing

WHO:

CNN - The ferry involved is the Mutiara Sentosa 2, operated by PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran.

CBS News - The ferry was carrying 271 people, including 232 passengers and 39 crew members.

BBC News - At least 250 people were reported to be on board the vessel.

WHAT:

ABC News - The ferry was loaded with 180 vehicles, mostly trucks, and an excavator.

ABC News - Ahmad Abdul Karim, a survivor, stated, "Fanned by the wind, the flames spread extremely quickly. In less than 30 minutes, everyone had been instructed to move to the bow of the ferry."

Al Jazeera - The ferry was reported to be almost engulfed in flames as a tugboat and another passing vessel moved in to begin evacuating passengers.

CBS News - A search-and-rescue operation was continuing, with authorities working to locate those still unaccounted for.

CNN - Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed thick black smoke billowing from one side of the ferry and spreading across much of the ship.

CBS News - Videos circulating on social media showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, clustered on the deck and upper sections of the vessel awaiting rescue, with some jumping into the sea.

CBS News - By Sunday afternoon, several nearby vessels managed to rescue 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies, with at least 41 people remaining unaccounted for.

CNN - The ferry was reported to be nearly engulfed by flames, with passengers gathered on the bridge and bow.

CBS News - The ferry operator, PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, reported the incident to the Surabaya search and rescue office about an hour later.

CBS News - A tugboat and another passing vessel began evacuating passengers shortly before 10 a.m.

CBS News - The 525-foot-long and 82-foot-wide ferry serves the Surabaya-Makassar route, a voyage that typically takes around 40 hours.

CNN - A fire broke out on the ferry, resulting in at least five deaths and dozens missing.

CBS News - By Sunday afternoon, 225 passengers and crew were rescued, and five bodies were recovered, with at least 41 people remaining unaccounted for.

BBC News - The vessel caught fire off Madura island.

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred in waters off Sumenep regency, near the northern tip of Madura island.

CBS News - The ferry was approximately 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi island when authorities located it.

WHEN:

CNN - The fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.

CBS News - The ferry operator reported the incident about an hour after the fire started.

CBS News - Authorities determined the ferry's location by 9:45 a.m.

CBS News - Evacuations began shortly before 10 a.m.

WHY:

CNN - The cause of the fire was not immediately known and remains under investigation.

HOW:

ABC News - The ferry was built in Japan in 1992 and operated there before being sold to Indonesia in 2015. It can accommodate 689 passengers and 49 crew, along with up to 181 vehicles.

CBS News - A rescue vessel was dispatched from Surabaya, although it was expected to take about six hours to reach the scene.

CNN - The Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist in the rescue efforts.

CNN - A rigid inflatable boat from the Sumenep rescue post was sent toward the location but later returned to shore because of rough seas and high waves.

CNN - Rescuers and passing vessels evacuated hundreds from the burning ship.

CBS News - A tugboat and another passing vessel assisted in evacuating passengers.

CBS News - Search and rescue teams dispatched a rescue vessel from Surabaya, estimated to take about six hours to reach the scene.

CBS News - A rigid inflatable boat was sent from the Sumenep rescue post but returned due to rough seas and high waves. The Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 09:00 UTC)

A ferry carrying 180 vehicles, including trucks and an excavator, experienced a rapid spread of flames, prompting survivors to move to the bow for safety. Ahmad Abdul Karim, a survivor of the incident, recounted that the fire spread extremely quickly, with everyone instructed to evacuate within just 30 minutes. Built in Japan in 1992 and sold to Indonesia in 2015, the ferry has the capacity to hold 689 passengers and 49 crew members, along with up to 181 vehicles.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 05:33 UTC)

A ferry was reported to be almost engulfed in flames, prompting a tugboat and another passing vessel to move in for passenger evacuation. Authorities are actively conducting a search-and-rescue operation to locate those still unaccounted for, with a rescue vessel dispatched from Surabaya, expected to arrive in about six hours. The situation remains critical as efforts continue to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 01:24 UTC)

Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency shows thick black smoke billowing from one side of a ferry, with terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, clustered on the deck and upper sections awaiting rescue, some even jumping into the sea. By Sunday afternoon, several nearby vessels had managed to rescue 225 passengers and crew, while five bodies were recovered and at least 41 people remained unaccounted for. In response to the emergency, the Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist in the rescue efforts.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 15:52 UTC)

A ferry serving the Surabaya-Makassar route was reported to be nearly engulfed by flames, with passengers gathered on the bridge and bow as a tugboat and another vessel began evacuating them shortly before 10 a.m. The ferry, measuring 525 feet long and 82 feet wide, is operated by PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, which notified the Surabaya search and rescue office about the incident about an hour later. Although a rigid inflatable boat was dispatched from the Sumenep rescue post to assist, it had to return to shore due to rough seas and high waves.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 14:25 UTC)

A tragic fire broke out on the Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry, which was carrying 271 people off the northern tip of Madura island, resulting in at least five confirmed deaths and dozens still missing. By Sunday afternoon, rescuers had managed to save 225 individuals, but authorities reported that at least 41 people remain unaccounted for as the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Evacuations began shortly before 10 a.m. with the assistance of a tugboat and other vessels, while a rescue ship from Surabaya was dispatched to the scene, expected to arrive in about six hours.