Indonesia ferry fire off Madura Island leaves five dead, dozens missing FAST-MOVING
The passenger ferry KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire on 2 August 2026 in the Java Sea off Madura Island while sailing from Surabaya to Makassar. The vessel was carrying about 271 people – 232 passengers and 39 crew members according to the manifest, though officials said the actual number may have been higher.
At least five people were confirmed dead and between 28 and 41 passengers remain missing. Rescue teams have saved between 225 and 229 survivors. The search, coordinated by the Indonesian police, navy and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), involves seven boats, a helicopter and a maritime‑surveillance aircraft. Two navy warships, KRI Nala‑363 and KRI Bung Hatta‑370, were deployed, and civilian vessels – including a Pertamina oil‑product tanker and the cargo ship Meratus Pematangsiantar – assisted in evacuating survivors. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with some survivors suggesting a truck on the vehicle deck may have ignited the blaze. The operation is expected to continue for at least a week, with the search area extending 10 miles east and west of the incident site.
Entities: Arman Asmara Syarifuddin · Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) · Indonesian Navy · KM Mutiara Sentosa (Mutiara Sentosa 2) ferry · KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 · Madura Island · Makassar · Mutiara Sentosa 2 · Nanang Sigit · PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran · Surabaya · Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Indonesian Navy deployed warships KRI Nala‑363 and KRI Bung Hatta‑370 and a maritime‑surveillance aircraft to assist the rescue. (new)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The cause of the fire was unknown and under investigation. (new)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The ferry was traveling from Surabaya to Makassar when the fire broke out. (new)
- [● 10 SOURCES] The ferry KM Mutiara Sentosa caught fire off Madura Island on 2 August 2026. (new)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The vessel carried about 271 people, including 232 passengers and 39 crew members. (new)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Between 28 and 41 passengers were reported missing after the fire. (new)
- [● 11 SOURCES] At least five people were confirmed dead in the fire. (new)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Rescue operations saved between 225 and 229 people. (new)