At least five people have died and 41 are still unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Indonesia on Sunday. The vessel, which was carrying 271 people, sent distress signals as flames engulfed parts of the ship, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
According to the Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency, 225 passengers were brought to safety, many of them rescued by a nearby vessel after leaping into the sea to escape the fire. The agency said four other boats stood by but could not approach the burning ferry because of the danger posed by flammable materials on board.
Rescue efforts and ongoing search
Search teams are combing the waters off East Java, where the ferry was travelling when the fire broke out. The operation involves naval vessels, fishing boats, and aircraft, with efforts focused on locating the missing passengers. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the missing are feared dead or may have been picked up by other ships.
The ferry, which was en route from a port in East Java to one of the islands in the archipelago, was carrying a mix of passengers and crew. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though initial reports suggest it may have started in the engine room. An investigation has been launched.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. Accidents are not uncommon, often due to overcrowding, poor safety standards, and harsh weather conditions. In recent years, several deadly ferry sinkings have prompted calls for stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations.
While this tragedy occurred far from European waters, it echoes concerns about maritime safety that resonate globally. European shipping companies and regulators have long pushed for higher safety standards, and the European Union has funded projects to improve maritime safety in Southeast Asia. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of such cooperation.
As rescue teams continue their search, families of the missing wait anxiously for news. The local authorities have set up a crisis centre to provide information and support. The ferry operator has not yet issued a statement.
This is not the first time this year that a maritime disaster has claimed lives. In a separate incident, a migrant boat drifting for 25 days off Mauritania left 144 people dead or missing, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by those at sea. Closer to Europe, the search for a British surfer missing off Portugal's Algarve coast was recently suspended, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the ocean.
The Indonesian authorities have pledged to conduct a thorough investigation and to hold those responsible accountable if negligence is found. For now, the focus remains on the search and rescue operation, with hopes of finding more survivors.
