Nine vessels sent to rescue 250 people after ferry fire off East Java

hartono · Aug 2, 2026

Nine vessels sent to rescue 250 people after ferry fire off East Java

The Mutiara Sentosa 2 passenger ferry catches fire in waters off Sumenep, East Java, on Sunday (Aug. 2, 2026). (ANTARA/HO-Sumenep Regional Disaster Management Agency)

Sumenep (ANTARA) - Indonesian authorities deployed nine vessels on Sunday to evacuate 250 passengers and crew after the passenger ferry Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire off Sumenep, East Java, police said.

Sumenep Police public relations chief Widiarti said the ferry was traveling from Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya to Makassar when the fire broke out on Sunday morning. The incident occurred 19 nautical miles north of Sapudi Island in the waters off Sumenep, at coordinates 06°30'64" South Latitude and 114°00'19" East Longitude.

“Nine vessels have been dispatched to carry out the evacuation,” Widiarti said.

The vessels deployed for the rescue operation include KN Search and Rescue (SAR) 249 Permadi, a rescue boat from the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, a Sumenep SAR post vessel, a Surabaya Harbormaster vessel, a Surabaya Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) vessel, an SROP Kalianget vessel, a KSOP Kalianget vessel, Meratur Project 3, and TB Hasnur 26.

The Sumenep SAR Post has also deployed rescue personnel to the scene to assist with the evacuation of passengers and crew. The Mutiara Sentosa 2 was reported to be carrying about 250 people, including passengers and crew.

“We have also deployed police personnel from nearby precincts to assist with the rescue team,” Widiarti said.

The Sumenep Water and Air Police Unit has previously responded to several maritime accidents and vessel fires in the region.