Daijiworld Media Network – Jakarta

Jakarta, Aug 2: At least five people were killed and 41 others remain missing after a passenger ferry carrying 271 people caught fire at sea off Indonesia's Madura Island on Sunday, officials said.

The ferry was travelling from Surabaya in East Java, Indonesia's second-largest city, to Makassar in South Sulawesi when the fire broke out.

Rescue teams have launched a massive search-and-rescue operation to trace the missing passengers, with authorities fearing the death toll could rise.

Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the ferry as flames engulfed parts of the vessel. Some clips appeared to show passengers jumping into the sea in an attempt to escape the blaze. However, the authenticity of these videos could not be independently verified.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while rescue operations continue. Further details are awaited.