Ferry fire in Indonesia kills at least 5, 41 missing

A devastating fire aboard an Indonesian ferry has resulted in at least five fatalities and left 41 people missing, according to search and rescue officials. The vessel, carrying 271 passengers, caught fire at sea while en route from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi.

Search and rescue operations are actively continuing to locate the missing individuals. A total of 225 people have been rescued, with some leaping into the sea and being saved by nearby ships. Four other vessels in the vicinity were unable to assist due to the risk posed by flammable materials on the burning ferry.

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Based on preliminary reports from the field, passengers are waiting to be evacuated by the vessels in the vicinity of the incident site.

Contact was lost with the ferry's captain shortly after he reported the fire. Officials from the Ministry of Transportation stated that passenger and crew safety is the top priority and that all relevant parties are coordinating for a swift and effective evacuation. Preliminary reports indicated passengers were awaiting rescue by nearby vessels.

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The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority. We are continuously coordinating with all relevant parties to ensure that the evacuation process can proceed quickly, safely, and effectively.