Indonesian Minister Oversees Ferry Fire Evacuation, Vows Full Support

Indonesia's Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, personally visited Sumenep on Sunday evening to monitor the evacuation of passengers from the KM Mutiara Sentosa II ferry. The vessel caught fire in the waters north of Sumenep, East Java.

From Kalianget Port, Minister Purwagandhi affirmed that the evacuation process was progressing smoothly. "We express our deepest condolences for this disaster. We ensure that the evacuation process is carried out optimally and runs smoothly so that all passengers and crew can be found and receive further treatment from officials," he stated. The search and rescue operation, led by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), is ongoing.

“

We express our deepest condolences for this disaster. We ensure that the evacuation process is carried out optimally and runs smoothly so that all passengers and crew can be found and receive further treatment from officials.

Victims who are successfully rescued are planned to be evacuated to Surabaya for further medical attention. The Minister is actively monitoring the situation and maintaining close coordination with regional heads in Madura, the SAR team, the TNI, Polri, KSOP, the ship operator, and all other involved parties in the rescue operation.

Minister Purwagandhi emphasized that all necessary resources have been deployed to support the evacuation, search, rescue, and victim care efforts. He met with Sumenep Regent Achmad Fauzi Wongsojudo to strengthen coordination and thanked the local government and regional leadership for their swift response. He also commended the owners and operators of rescue vessels for their rapid assistance and praised the proactive measures taken by regional heads across Madura in preparing personnel and health facilities.

“

I appreciate the proactive steps of the Regents of Sumenep, Bangkalan, Sampang, and Pamekasan who have prepared personnel, health facilities, and teams in their respective waters to assist passengers who may be carried by the current. Synergy between regions like this is crucial in accelerating rescue and providing a sense of security to the community.