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The search continued after passengers were forced into the water and nearby vessels joined an emergency evacuation.
Fire broke out during a domestic voyage
The Mutiara Sentosa 2 was traveling from Surabaya to Makassar when it caught fire near Madura Island on Sunday morning. The vessel was carrying 271 passengers and crew, according to Indonesian authorities.
Passengers escaped into the sea
Video from the scene showed heavy black smoke and people in life jackets leaving the ferry. Nearby tugboats and other vessels began pulling survivors from the water and transferring passengers away from the burning ship.
Rescue numbers were still changing
Authorities reported 225 people rescued, at least five dead and 41 missing as operations continued. Weather, smoke and the condition of the vessel complicated the response, while the Indonesian Navy deployed additional support.
The cause remains under investigation
Officials had not announced a confirmed cause of the fire. Indonesia depends heavily on ferries to connect its islands, but recurring maritime accidents have kept questions about vessel maintenance, passenger records and safety enforcement in public focus.