Kathmandu— An Indonesian ferry, the Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire off Java's coast early Sunday morning, resulting in at least five deaths and dozens missing. The vessel was en route from Surabaya to Makassar with 271 people on board when a blaze erupted between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., forcing rescuers and nearby ships to evacuate hundreds of passengers.

Fire Breaks Out

The fire reportedly began around 6:00 a.m. on the lower vehicle deck, quickly spreading across the ship. Survivors like Ahmad Abdul Karim described seeing two vehicles burning and smoke rapidly engulfing the vessel. By 9:45 a.m., rescuers had determined the ferry was approximately 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi island after communicating with the nearby cargo vessel Meratus Project 3.

Rescue Efforts

Several rescue operations were initiated, including dispatching a rigid inflatable boat from Sumenep and deploying a warship by the Indonesian Navy. However, rough seas hindered some efforts. By Sunday evening, rescuers had managed to save 227 passengers and crew members while recovering five bodies. At least 39 people remained unaccounted for.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, with no immediate conclusions drawn.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.