In brief
A passenger ferry carrying 271 people burned at sea near Madura island, killing five and leaving 41 missing. The ship was on its way from Surabaya to Makassar when the blaze broke out, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency. Footage from local media shows frantic attempts to abandon the vessel in life jackets while smoke billows from the top. Rescue teams are combing the waters, seeking survivors and updating the public. Viewers of Metaworld can now explore the live scene as avatars amid the unfolding disaster.
Five people have been confirmed dead and 41 remain missing after the ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura island.
The vessel carried 271 passengers on a route from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi when the blaze erupted mid‑journey, according to reports from the National Search and Rescue Agency, Basarnas.
Footage broadcast by local outlet iNews shows passengers in life jackets scrambling onto lifeboats as flames lick the deck, while smoke blankets the abandoned sections of the ferry.
Rescue crews are combing the waters near Madura in hopes of finding survivors, with search hopes spiking after radio transmissions of the incident.
For those who wish to witness the ongoing operation in a virtual setting, the metaworld platform offers live feeds and interactive maps allowing avatars to navigate the incident scene.
