[International] Indonesian Ferry Fire Kills 5, 28 Missing as Search Continues

Indonesian officials stated today (3rd) that a ferry carrying 271 people caught fire off the coast of Madura Island on the 2nd. As of now, 5 people have died, 28 are missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. According to Reuters, the ferry, named "KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2," departed from Surabaya in East Java Province on the 2nd, heading for Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi Province, when a fire broke out en route. Madura Island is located off the northeast coast of Java Island. Another report from the Associated Press stated that the ferry was also carrying 180 vehicles, mostly trucks, and one excavator. Survivor Ahmad Abdul Karim said that the fire was suspected to have originated from a truck on the lower vehicle deck. He said, "Under the strong wind, the fire spread very quickly. In less than 30 minutes, everyone was asked to move to the bow of the ship." Arman Asmara Syarifuddin, Head of Maritime and Aviation Affairs for the East Java Regional Police, told Reuters that out of the 271 people on board, 238 have been rescued, 5 have been confirmed dead, and 28 are still unaccounted for. Syarifuddin stated that the police are cooperating with search and rescue units and the navy, deploying seven ships and one helicopter to assist in searching for the missing. The vessels involved in the search include a small navy frigate, several speedboats, and a patrol boat capable of carrying about 100 people. He indicated that the search operation will continue for seven days and can be extended for another 14 days if necessary. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The ferry was built in Japan in 1992, operated there, and was sold to Indonesia in 2015. It is 160 meters long and can carry 689 passengers, 49 crew members, and up to 181 vehicles. (Editor: Song Wanyuan)