5 killed and dozens missing after Indonesian ferry fire

At least five people have died and dozens more are missing after an Indonesian ferry carrying 271 people caught fire in waters off the main island of Java Sunday. Rescuers and passing vessels evacuated hundreds from the burning ship.

The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry was travelling from Indonesia's second-largest city of Surabaya in East Java to the city of Makassar in South Sulawasi.

The vessel had 232 passengers and 39 crew onboard when the fire broke out between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday.

The ferry operator reported the incident to the Surabaya search and rescue office about an hour later.

The search and rescue office said they received information from the ferry's captain that the vessel was on fire near the northern tip of Madura island but contact was later lost.

By Sunday afternoon several nearby vessels managed to rescue 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies. At least 41 people remained unaccounted for.