Indonesian Navy deploys warships, aircraft in ferry fire rescue

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Navy deployed two warships and a maritime surveillance aircraft to rescue survivors and recover bodies after a passenger ferry caught fire in the Java Sea, naval officials said Monday.

The emergency deployment was ordered after the KM Mutiara Sentosa II caught fire on Sunday morning off Sumenep, East Java.

Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata, Commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, said naval units responded immediately after receiving distress reports at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time.

Two warships operating in nearby waters—the KRI Nala-363 and KRI Bung Hatta-370—were redirected to the scene.

The KRI Nala-363 had just completed a joint passing exercise (PASSEX) with a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy warship, while the KRI Bung Hatta-370 was patrolling a major shipping route through the Indonesian archipelago.

“Our Fleet Command personnel are always ready to respond promptly and mobilize their full capabilities to save lives,” Denih said in a statement released in Jakarta.

To support search efforts, the navy also dispatched an NC 212-200 maritime surveillance aircraft to provide real-time aerial reconnaissance over the search zone.

The KRI Nala-363 successfully rescued 30 survivors and recovered two bodies from the water, transporting them to a crisis center in Surabaya, the capital of East Java, for medical care and identification.

The KRI Bung Hatta-370 remained on station at the scene to secure the area and assist remaining search and rescue operations.

Naval officials confirmed that personnel will remain on high alert to assist joint rescue teams for as long as necessary.