Survivors recounted hearing multiple blasts moments before a passenger ferry caught fire in Indonesian waters, resulting in the deaths of five passengers and leaving several others still missing more than 24 hours later. The ferry, carrying 236 people, departed from Surabaya for Makassar on Sunday morning. Search and rescue agency head Nanang Sigit reported that 229 people had been rescued alive and five bodies recovered. The exact number of missing persons remains unclear, with officials providing varying figures.
The fire broke out as passengers were having breakfast. Survivor Muhammad Abdul Karim described smoke entering the sleeping quarters followed by explosions. The blaze originated in the stern, forcing passengers to flee to the bow where they were given life jackets. Muhammad jumped overboard with an elderly man as the fire approached and saw flames engulfing the ferry.
Rescuers worked through the night to locate survivors, though the number of missing people kept changing. Most evacuees were returned to Surabaya, a six-hour boat ride from where the ferry encountered trouble. Bambang Susilo, a survivor, described feeling the blaze approach the bow and the floor getting warmer, prompting him and another passenger to jump into the sea.
Another rescue vessel was deployed on Monday to aid in finding the missing. Marine accidents are common in Indonesia due to lax safety standards and unpredictable weather. Last month, a ferry transporting over 70 people sank near Selayar, resulting in at least four deaths and 14 missing persons.
