Ferry Fire Claims Five Lives in Indonesia; 227 Rescued

The number of fatalities from a fire that engulfed the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry has climbed to five, as rescue operations continue. The vessel, en route from Surabaya to Makassar, caught fire early Sunday morning in the waters north of Sumenep, Madura, prompting a large-scale search and rescue effort.

As of Sunday evening, a total of 232 individuals had been evacuated. Of these, 227 were reported as survivors, while five tragically lost their lives. Authorities are still working to confirm whether the victims were exclusively passengers or if crew members were also among the deceased.

Video footage circulating on social media shows the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 engulfed in thick, dark smoke, with passengers visible wearing orange life vests. The fire reportedly broke out between 6:00 and 7:00 AM local time, severing communication with the ship's captain.

The ferry, operated by PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, was carrying an estimated 250 people when the incident occurred. The alarm was raised around 8:24 AM when the Tanjung Perak Port Authority reported the fire. Shortly after, the shipping company confirmed the blaze. Search and rescue teams, coordinating with port authorities and radio stations, located the ferry approximately 19 nautical miles north of Pulau Burung, Sapudi. At the time of discovery, parts of the ship were already ablaze, with passengers gathered on the upper decks.

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The temporary data as of 6:00 PM shows that a total of 232 victims were successfully evacuated, consisting of 227 survivors and five deceased.