Five Deceased, 41 Missing as Indonesian Ferry Bursts Into Flame

Sun Sep 06 2026 11:20:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A ferry carrying 271 passengers caught fire off Madura Island, leaving five dead and 41 believed missing. Emergency crews are racing to search survivors.

A tragic blaze broke out on an Indonesian ferry off Madura Island while it was en route from Surabaya to Makassar. Five passengers were found dead and 41 are still missing. The incident has drawn a swift response from BASARNAS, the national search and rescue agency. Video footage shows people scrambling into lifeboats amid smoke and flames. The full details will be updated as rescue efforts continue.

Five Deceased, 41 Missing as Indonesian Ferry Bursts Into Flame

Five people found dead; 41 feared missing after an Indonesian ferry carrying 271 passengers caught fire at sea.

The ship's captain reported the blaze off Madura Island as the vessel sailed from Surabaya, Indonesia's second‑largest city, heading toward Makassar, South Sulawesi. BASARNAS, the national search and rescue agency, has confirmed the incident and is coordinating rescue operations.

Video footage shared by local news outlet iNews shows many passengers wearing life jackets as they board a lifeboat amid the smoke and flames. Other clips depict people climbing down from the burning ferry to escape.

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