Ferry fire off Indonesia's Madura island leaves five dead and dozens missing

A passenger ferry identified as the KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire on Sunday, August 2, 2026, while traveling off the coast of Madura Island, Indonesia. The vessel had departed from Surabaya and was en route to Makassar on the island of Sulawesi with 271 passengers and crew members on board. The incident triggered a significant rescue operation involving the national search and rescue agency, the Indonesian Navy, and police units.

While initial reports indicated 41 individuals were missing, updated figures provided by local authorities on Monday suggest that 238 people have been rescued, five fatalities have been confirmed, and 28 individuals remain unaccounted for. Authorities noted that inaccurate passenger manifests have complicated the ongoing search efforts. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Search and rescue operations are currently active in the sea area extending approximately 16 kilometers east and west of the incident site. The authorities have deployed seven vessels, including a naval corvette and high-speed boats, alongside a helicopter to continue the search for the remaining missing passengers.