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New Delhi: At least five people died and 41 remained missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Madura Island in Indonesia on Sunday morning, authorities said.

The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 carried around 250 passengers and crew members when the fire broke out. The vessel had left Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya and was headed to Makassar on Sulawesi Island.

The ferry’s captain alerted the authorities about the blaze several hours after the journey began. Officials lost communication with the vessel shortly after receiving the report.

EVAKUASI KM MUTIARA SENTOSA, PENUMPANG NEKAT LONCAT!

KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 rute Surabaya–Makassar terbakar di perairan utara Sumenep, Madura, Minggu (2/8/2026). Sekitar 250 person on board (POB) dievakuasi setelah api melahap hampir seluruh bagian kapal.https://t.co/NfxQhb0eG1 pic.twitter.com/7u2keTEyUx

— Daeng Info (@Daeng_Info) August 2, 2026

The Surabaya Search and Rescue Office traced the ferry to a location around 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi Island. By the time rescue teams reached the area, flames had engulfed almost the entire vessel.

Several passengers took shelter on the bridge and near the bow as they waited for help. Others wore life jackets and gathered along one side of the ferry to escape the flames and thick smoke.

Videos shared on social media showed large clouds of black smoke rising from the upper decks. The footage also appeared to show some passengers jumping off the vessel into the sea.

Several vessels in the area responded to the emergency and helped evacuate passengers from the burning ferry.

“TB Hasnur 26 and the British Mentor are assisting in evacuating passengers who jumped from KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2. Four vessels are now alongside the ferry,” said Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office.

The ships rescued people who had entered the water and helped those who remained trapped aboard the ferry. Authorities did not immediately disclose the condition of all the rescued passengers.

The rescue vessel SAR 249 Permadi also left for the accident site. However, officials said it could take about six hours to reach the ferry because of the distance involved.

Search and rescue teams continued efforts to locate the 41 missing people. Authorities also worked to confirm the total number of passengers and crew aboard the vessel.

Officials have launched an investigation to determine how the fire started. No immediate information was available about possible safety failures or the extent of damage to the ferry.