Overview
- The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire early on Sunday, Aug. 2, while sailing from Surabaya to Makassar about 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi island.
- Rescuers and nearby ships pulled hundreds from the burning ferry and authorities said on Aug. 4 that the manifest had been reconciled to 238 people with 233 evacuated and five dead.
- Survivors and officials reported the blaze likely began on the lower vehicle deck in or near a truck, but the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has opened a formal probe to determine the cause.
- Rescue efforts were hampered when nearby vessels could not approach closely because the ferry carried many trucks and other flammable cargo, and rough seas delayed a larger rescue ship from Surabaya.
- The incident has exposed recurring safety problems in Indonesia’s ferry system, including inaccurate passenger lists and heavy vehicle loads, and prompted a government review of the operator that could lead to tighter oversight.