The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry, carrying 271 people from Surabaya to Makassar, caught fire off Java early Sunday. Rescuers and nearby vessels evacuated hundreds; by afternoon 225 people had been rescued, five bodies recovered and 41 remained unaccounted for. Rough seas and a nearby vessel's flammable cargo hampered rescue efforts. The cause of the blaze is under investigation as authorities continue search-and-rescue operations.
Deadly Ferry Blaze Off Java: 5 Confirmed Dead, Dozens Missing After Mutiara Sentosa 2 Fire
The passenger ship Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire in the waters off Madura Island, East Java, Indonesia, on Aug. 2, 2026. / Credit: FRIDA PERKASA /AFP via Getty Images
Mutiara Sentosa 2, an Indonesian ferry carrying 271 people, caught fire in waters off Java early Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and dozens missing as rescuers and passing vessels evacuated hundreds from the burning ship, officials said.
The ferry was en route from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi with 232 passengers and 39 crew when the blaze began between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time in waters off Sumenep regency, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported.
Timeline and Location
About an hour after the fire began, the ferry operator PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran notified Surabaya search-and-rescue authorities. Company representatives said the ship's captain reported the vessel burning near the northern tip of Madura island before contact was lost. By 9:45 a.m., authorities located the ferry roughly 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi island after communicating with the nearby cargo vessel Meratus Project 3, which could not approach closely because it was carrying flammable cargo.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Footage released by Basarnas showed thick black smoke and flames spreading across the ship. Videos on social media depicted frightened passengers—many in life jackets—clustered on decks and upper sections, some jumping into the sea as the fire raged.
Plumes of smoke rise from a ferry that caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island on Aug. 2, 2026. / Credit: National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS)/Handout via REUTERS
By Sunday afternoon, several nearby vessels had rescued 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies. At least 41 people remained unaccounted for. A tugboat and another passing vessel evacuated many survivors shortly before 10 a.m., and the Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist.
Search Challenges and Investigation
Basarnas dispatched a rescue vessel from Surabaya, which officials estimated would take about six hours to reach the site. A rigid inflatable boat from the Sumenep rescue post attempted to reach the scene but returned because of rough seas and high waves, complicating search-and-rescue operations.
The cause of the fire has not been determined and remains under investigation.
Vessel and Route
The ferry is reported to be approximately 525 feet long and 82 feet wide. It serves the Surabaya–Makassar route, a voyage of roughly 40 hours, commonly used for domestic passengers and cargo between Java and Sulawesi. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for inter-island transport.
Authorities continue search operations and investigations into the origin of the blaze while coordinating with nearby commercial vessels and naval assets to locate missing passengers.
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