At least five people were killed, and 41 remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire near Madura Island, Indonesia, on Sunday.
The vessel was carrying 271 passengers and crew when the blaze broke out during its journey from Surabaya (East Java) to Makassar (South Sulawesi).
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency confirmed that 225 people had been rescued by Sunday afternoon. Multiple vessels have been deployed to scour surrounding waters and locate those still unaccounted for. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The incident has revived concerns over ferry safety in Indonesia, where overcrowding and fire hazards have led to repeated tragedies. In July 2025, the KM Barcelona 5 caught fire off North Sulawesi, killing three and forcing the rescue of around 150 passengers.
Authorities said investigations are underway, while families of the missing await updates as rescue operations continue.
