A major fire broke out on a passenger ferry carrying 271 people off East Java, Indonesia, killing at least five and leaving dozens missing. Amid the frantic scene of passengers jumping into the sea to escape the flames, nearby vessels joined the rescue.
According to Indonesia's search-and-rescue authorities, the vessel was a ferry passing waters near Madura Island in East Java; the number aboard was initially put at about 250 before being confirmed at 271. Of these, five died and 41 went missing, while 225 were rescued.
광고 문의 · 300×250The fire was fierce enough to engulf the entire ship. The ferry was traveling from Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, to Makassar in South Sulawesi, and when the fire broke out some passengers jumped into the sea to survive.
Vessels passing nearby helped by pulling passengers from the water, and authorities deployed rescue teams and boats to continue searching for the missing. Open water and nighttime and weather conditions are factors making the search difficult.
Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are a main means of transport. Ship safety and management of capacity and fire have accordingly been flagged as recurring challenges.
Hwagyo Sibo reports maritime accidents around fact and the rescue situation rather than sensationally. For travelers who use Southeast Asian sea transport and the Chinese community, the accident again underscores the importance of ship safety.
