According to reports from local Indonesian media such as iNews.id and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency stated on August 2 that a ferry carrying 271 people experienced a sudden fire at sea. Currently, 5 people have been confirmed dead, 41 remain unaccounted for, and another 225 have been rescued.
According to reports, the ferry named ‘Mutiara Santosa 2’ departed from Surabaya, the second-largest city in Indonesia and the economic center of East Java Province. It was heading towards Wanga Sica in South Sulawesi Province. When it reached the waters near Madura Island, the captain reported a fire on board.
The footage broadcast by iNews.id shows a large number of people wearing life jackets gathered on a lifeboat.
In other video footage, passengers were being evacuated from the ferry, and flames and thick smoke continuously erupted from the top of the ferry.
The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency later confirmed that the ferry was 'almost completely consumed by flames'.
