Number of people missing unknown after Indonesian ferry fire that killed 5, rescuers say
Seattle times · 2026-08-03
A fire aboard the Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry, traveling from Surabaya to Makassar, has left an unknown number of people missing. The fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. in waters off Sumenep regency. While the ship's manifest listed 232 passengers and 39 crew, officials reported a higher number of people on board, a common discrepancy in Indonesia. Rescuers saved 229 individuals and recovered five bodies. Authorities are now cross-referencing family reports to determine the missing. The cause of the fire, which occurred on a 160-meter vessel built in Japan in 1992 and purchased by Indonesia in 2015, is under investigation. The ferry, also carrying 180 vehicles, primarily trucks and an excavator, operates on a 40-hour route vital for inter-island travel and cargo. Frequent ferry disasters in Indonesia are often attributed to weak safety enforcement in the archipelago nation.
*The full article also explores the broader context of maritime safety regulations and past incidents in Indonesia.*