Overview
- A passenger ferry traveling from Surabaya to Makassar caught fire and the captain became unreachable, prompting immediate evacuations by nearby boats.
- Authorities say 225 people have been rescued, five bodies recovered and 41 remain unaccounted for as search-and-rescue work continues.
- Rescue operations are constrained because four vessels nearby could not approach the burning ship due to flammable materials on board.
- A large rescue contingent is reported to be several hours' travel from the site, leaving many passengers waiting to be transferred to safety.
- The incident echoes a pattern of recent maritime accidents in Indonesia linked to lax safety practices and hazardous cargo, and officials say passenger safety is their top priority as searches continue.