On the morning of August 2, a serious maritime disaster occurred in Indonesia. The ferry Mutiara Sentosa 2, traveling from Surabaya (East Java province) to Makassar on South Sulawesi, caught fire in the open sea. The vessel was engulfed in intense flames, causing thick plumes of black smoke to rise above the deck.
Large-scale evacuation
There were 271 people on board the burning ferry — passengers and crew members. The situation was complicated by the distance from the shore and the intensity of the fire. Around 10:00 AM, a tugboat and another passing vessel arrived at the scene and immediately began rescue operations.
By evening on the same day, rescuers managed to evacuate 225 people. However, the tragedy was not without casualties: five bodies were found in the water. The fate of the remaining passengers, who were neither among the rescued nor the deceased, remains unknown.
Risks of maritime transport in Indonesia
This incident has once again highlighted the issue of safety in maritime transport in the region. Indonesia, consisting of more than 17,500 islands, critically depends on shipping for connectivity between territories. Unfortunately, maritime accidents are not uncommon here, making the monitoring of vessel technical conditions and compliance with safety regulations a priority for local authorities.
