An Indonesian ferry carrying at least 250 people caught fire at sea on Sunday, August 2, 2026, off Madura Island. The fire broke out as the vessel sailed from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi, according to Basarnas, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency.

The captain reported the blaze early in the morning, around 06:00-07:00 local time (00:00-01:00 GMT). Video footage released by Basarnas shows the ferry engulfed in flames, with passengers holding on to the ship's bridge and bow while awaiting rescue.

A total of 225 people were rescued, as reported by the regional Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency. However, five people have been found dead and 41 remain missing after some passengers jumped overboard to escape the fire. Some were picked up by nearby ships.

Four other vessels were on standby near the ferry but could not approach due to the risk posed by flammable materials on board. A larger rescue operation was dispatched from Surabaya, approximately a six-hour journey from the incident site.

Muhammad Masyhud, a senior official at the Ministry of Transportation, stated, "Based on preliminary reports from the field, passengers are waiting to be evacuated by the vessels in the vicinity of the incident site. The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority. We are continuously coordinating with all relevant parties to ensure that the evacuation process can proceed quickly, safely, and effectively."

Marine accidents are frequent in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, often due to lax safety standards and unpredictable weather. Last month, a ferry transporting over 70 people sank near the island of Selayar, south of Sulawesi, resulting in at least four deaths and 14 missing persons.

The search and rescue operation for the current incident is ongoing.

Sources