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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 3, 2026Miami-Dade

Indonesian ferry fire leaves five dead with unknown number of passengers missing

Rescuers are searching for missing passengers after the Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry caught fire off the coast of Java, resulting in at least five confirmed deaths. While the official manifest listed 271 people on board, officials report that the actual number of passengers was higher, complicating rescue efforts.

maritime safetytransportationemergency responseIndonesia
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Why It Matters

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding passenger accuracy and maritime travel in Indonesia, where ferries are a primary mode of transportation between the country's 17,000 islands.

Key Facts

  • At least five people died in the ferry fire.
  • 231 people have been rescued.
  • The official manifest listed 271 people, including 39 crew members, but officials believe more were on board.
  • The fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Sunday.
  • The vessel was carrying 180 vehicles, mostly trucks.
  • The fire reportedly started on the lower vehicle deck and spread within 30 minutes.
  • The ferry was built in 1992 and sold to Indonesia in 2015.
  • The vessel is 160 meters long and has a capacity for 689 passengers and 49 crew.
  • The incident occurred 35 kilometers north of Sapudi island in the Sumenep regency.
  • The voyage between Surabaya and Makassar typically takes 40 hours.

Who's Mentioned

otherMutiara Sentosa 2“The ferry involved in the fire.”organizationAtosim Lampung Pelayaran“The operator of the ferry.”personDudy Purwagandhi“Indonesian Transportation Minister.”organizationNational Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT)“The agency investigating the cause of the fire.”locationSurabaya“City in East Java and departure point for the ferry.”locationMakassar“City in South Sulawesi and destination for the ferry.”personNanang Sigit“Search mission coordinator and head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office.”