Indonesia ferry fire: At least 5 dead as horror blaze engulfs boat with 250 aboard | World | News
At least five people have died after a fire erupted aboard a ferry carrying 250 people. The blaze erupted on the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 on Sunday, as it was just off Madura Island in Indonesia.
The vessel was en route from Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya to Makassar on Sulawesi Island when the captain reported a fire between 6am to 7am. Communication was lost afterwards. A desperate search and rescue operation has since been launched, with vessels located in the area rushing to help evacuate the ship.
Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, said: “TB Hasnur 26 and the British Mentor are assisting in evacuating passengers who jumped from KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2. Four vessels are now alongside the ferry.”
The office had been alerted to the fire at 8.24am, with the blaze still raging at 11.20am.
A rescue vessel, SAR 249 Permadi, was en route to the scene but faced an estimated travel time of about six hours, the Times of India reports.
Some 200 people managed to be brought to safety, officials said.
Harrowing footage circulating on social media shows thick smoke rising from the vessel, while passengers wearing life jackets can be seen gathered on the bridge and at the bow waiting ot be evacuated.
