Kathmandu— At least five people have died and another 41 are missing after a ferry caught fire on Sunday morning while traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi. The vessel was carrying a total of 271 passengers and crew members, with search and rescue officials confirming that 225 had been rescued by Sunday afternoon.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Search and rescue operations are ongoing as some passengers reportedly jumped overboard and were picked up by a nearby ship. However, four other vessels on standby could not approach the burning ferry due to safety concerns from flammable material on board. Muhammad Masyhud, a senior official at the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, stated that “passengers are waiting to be evacuated by the vessels in the vicinity of the incident site.” He emphasized that “the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” adding that coordination with all relevant parties continues for a quick and effective evacuation process.

Investigation into Cause

The cause of the fire remains unclear, though it was initially reported by the ship's captain who has not been in contact since. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about maritime safety standards in Indonesia, an archipelago with over 17,000 islands where unpredictable weather conditions and lax regulations contribute to frequent marine accidents.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.