- Five dead, 41 missing after ferry fire near Madura Island.
- Authorities rescued 225 passengers; search operations continue for missing.
- Fire’s cause remains unknown, following similar past incidents.
Five people have died and 41 others remain missing after a ferry carrying 271 passengers and crew caught fire near Indonesia’s Madura Island, authorities have said. The vessel was travelling from Surabaya in East Java province to Makassar in South Sulawesi when the fire broke out. The cause of the blaze remains unknown.
Search And Rescue Operation Underway
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said 225 people had been rescued, while efforts were continuing to locate those still missing.
Rescue teams remain at the scene as the search operation continues. Officials have not yet said what caused the ferry to catch fire.
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Similar Incident Occurred Last Year
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The incident comes just over a year after another deadly ferry fire in Indonesia. In July 2025, a passenger ferry, KM Barcelona 5, caught fire near North Sulawesi province. Three people were killed and around 150 others were rescued. The vessel was carrying 280 people when the incident occurred near the provincial capital, Manado.
Ferry Accidents In Indonesia
Indonesia has witnessed several ferry accidents in recent years. In 2021, the KM Karya Indah caught fire in the Molucca Sea shortly after departing Ternate, forcing passengers and crew to jump into the water. Authorities, assisted by local fishing boats, rescued 181 people, including 22 children and 14 crew members.
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