Five dead and 41 missing after Indonesian ferry catches fire

Search for 41 missing continues after fire sinks Indonesian ferry KM Mutiara Sentosa

ANSA English (Italy)Rescuers are still searching for as many as 41 people unaccounted for after a fire broke out around 6-7 a.m. aboard the ferry KM Mutiara Sentosa, which was carrying 271 passengers from Surabaya to Makassar when it caught fire off Madura island. At least five bodies have been recovered, and Indonesia's navy dispatched a warship to help after passengers were seen leaping into the sea to escape the flames. Rescue counts have varied by report, with figures of 225 to 229 survivors pulled from the water so far. The exact cause of the blaze has not been disclosed, and search operations were continuing as of the most recent update.