Indonesia ferry fire leaves five dead, several missing, rescue efforts continue
- More than 234 passengers rescued as emergency crews continue search operations after vessel catches fire during voyage between Surabaya and Makassar.
Indonesian rescue teams continued evacuating passengers from the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II ferry on Monday after a devastating onboard fire, with 234 people now rescued or recovered, including 229 survivors and five fatalities, as search and relief operations entered a critical phase.
According to Nanang Sigit PH, Head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue (SAR) Office and coordinator of the operation, 122 victims had reached shore by early Monday. Of those, 113 were brought to Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, while nine others arrived at Kalianget Port in Sumenep aboard the rescue vessel KN SAR 249 Permadi.
Rescue officials said priority was given to disembarking 111 survivors transferred from the KM Meratus vessel before they were taken to the Gapura Surya Nusantara Terminal for registration and identification by joint emergency teams.
All survivors arriving in Surabaya underwent medical examinations, with those requiring additional treatment transferred to hospitals. In Sumenep, four victims were referred to Garam Hospital, while the remaining five were flown to Surabaya after completing registration procedures.
Authorities said the joint search-and-rescue operation had, as of early Monday, accounted for 234 passengers, including 229 survivors and five confirmed deaths, based on reports from all participating rescue vessels.
Three ships, KM Ferindo 1, Selaras Mas, and the Indonesian Navy vessel KRI Nala-363, were still en route to Surabaya carrying additional survivors and victims as rescue efforts continued.
