Passenger ship catches fire in Indonesia; 250 aboard, evacuation underway

A passenger ship, the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire on Sunday morning, August 2, 2026, in the waters off Sumenep, East Java, Indonesia. The vessel was traveling from Surabaya to Makassar and was carrying approximately 250 passengers and crew members at the time of the incident.

The fire broke out in an area approximately 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi Island. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Emergency response teams were quickly mobilized to the scene.

Nine vessels have been dispatched to assist in the evacuation of passengers and crew. These include the KN SAR 249 Permadi, ships from the Surabaya SAR Office, Sumenep SAR Post, Surabaya Syahbandar, Surabaya VTS, Kalianget SROP, Kalianget KSOP, Kapal Meratur Project 3, and TB Hasnur 26. Personnel from the Sumenep SAR Post have also been deployed to aid in the rescue efforts.

The coordinated evacuation operation is currently underway. Authorities are working to ensure the safety of all individuals on board the burning vessel and to transfer them to safety. Further details regarding the incident and the condition of the passengers and crew are expected to be released as the situation develops.