At least 5 dead, 41 missing after Indonesian ferry catches fire off East Java coast

Aug 2, 2026

On August 2, 2026, the Indonesian passenger ferry KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire in the Java Sea off Madura Island while traveling from Surabaya to Makassar. The blaze killed at least five people and left 41 missing, while 225 of the 271 passengers and crew were rescued. Evacuation efforts by nearby vessels and search teams were hampered by rough seas and flammable cargo on board, prompting the Indonesian Navy to deploy a warship to assist.

Indonesian ferry fire

▪The passenger ferry KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire in the Java Sea off Madura Island, Indonesia, on August 2, 2026.
▪The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 was traveling from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi, when the fire broke out on August 2, 2026.
▪The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 is 160 meters long and 25 meters wide, serving a route that typically takes around 40 hours.
▪The ferry operator PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran reported the fire to the Surabaya search and rescue office on August 2, 2026.

Rescue operation casualties

▪Rescue efforts were hindered by rough seas, forcing a rigid inflatable boat from the Sumenep rescue post to return to shore.
▪Nearby vessels were initially unable to approach the burning ferry closely due to the risk posed by flammable cargo on board.
▪The Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist in the search and rescue operation for the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2.
▪Search and rescue teams and nearby vessels rescued 225 of the 271 passengers and crew members from the burning ferry.
▪At least five people died and 41 others remained missing after the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire on August 2, 2026.