Five dead after Indonesian ferry catches fire

Five dead after Indonesian ferry catches fire

A handout photo made available by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency shows an aerial view of smoke raising from a burning ferry in waters off East Java province on Saturday. (EPA/BASARNAS handout)
A handout photo made available by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency shows an aerial view of smoke raising from a burning ferry in waters off East Java province on Saturday. (EPA/BASARNAS handout)

JAKARTA - A ferry caught fire in the Java Sea, leaving five people dead and nearly 190 others rescued, Indonesian authorities said Saturday.

A Transport Ministry spokesman, Julius Adravida Barata, said he didn't know if any passengers or crew are still missing.

Search and rescue agency advisories said that the accident happened on Friday night about 3km from Masalembo Island. A nearby ship went to the aid of the stricken ferry, which was also carrying many cars and trucks.

The search and rescue agency said two helicopters and a number of ships are still searching the area.

The survivors of a ferry that caught fire getting medical treatment at a clinic in Masalembu Island, East Java province, on Saturday. (EPA/BNPB handout)

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT