At least five dead and 41 missing after Indonesian ferry catches fire

At least five people have died and 41 remain missing after a ferry carrying 271 passengers caught fire off the coast of Madura island in Indonesia. Indonesian authorities reported that the vessel was travelling from the city of Surabaya on Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi when the blaze broke out.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing travelers. Maritime incidents remain relatively frequent across Indonesia's archipelago of over 17,000 islands, where safety enforcement can be inconsistent and weather conditions unpredictable.

Sources: Sweden Herald, NRK