Search continues for 28 missing after Indonesia ferry fire

Rescuers continue to search for 28 people missing after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island. The KM Mutiara Sentosa ferry was en route from Surabaya to Makassar when it caught fire on August 2. Of the 271 passengers on board, five are confirmed dead and 238 have been rescued.

Authorities have deployed seven boats and one helicopter to find the missing individuals. The search is focused on an area extending 16km east and 16km west of the incident's location. The operation is initially set for seven days but could be extended for another 14 days. The cause of the fire remains unclear.

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Police with the rescue agency and the Navy have deployed seven boats and one helicopter to find the missing people.

Families of the victims anxiously awaited news at the Port of Gapura Surya Nusantara in Surabaya. One woman, Ria, expressed her distress, stating she could not contact her missing uncle and was unsure of his condition. "I tried to contact continuously after I got the information but his cellphone was not active, then I contacted his wife to make sure that my uncle was on the ship and it turned out to be true," she said.

Indonesia, an archipelago nation, heavily relies on ferries for transportation due to their affordability and availability. However, safety standards are often not strictly enforced, leading to frequent accidents.

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I tried to contact continuously after I got the information but his cellphone was not active, then I contacted his wife to make sure that my uncle was on the ship and it turned out to be true. And until now I have not been able to contact and know his condition.