Five Dead, Dozens Missing After Indonesian Ferry Catches Fire

JAKARTA-At least five people were killed and 41 remained missing after an Indonesian passenger ferry carrying 271 people caught fire at sea on Sunday, prompting a search-and-rescue operation, authorities said.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said the vessel caught fire while sailing from Surabaya, the country’s second-largest city in East Java province, to Makassar in South Sulawesi province.

According to Basarnas, the ferry’s captain reported the fire while the vessel was en route, triggering an emergency response by rescue authorities.

Officials said five bodies had been recovered, while search teams continued efforts to locate 41 people who remained unaccounted for.

The agency said there were 271 people aboard the ferry at the time of the incident but did not immediately provide further details on the cause of the fire or the number of survivors.

Search-and-rescue operations were continuing as authorities worked to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and account for all passengers and crew.