Why Passengers of KMP Mutiara Sentosa Did Not Use Lifeboats During Fire

Basarnas Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii has dismissed reports that the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II lacked lifeboats when it caught fire in the waters north of Sumenep, Madura, on Sunday. He confirmed the vessel was equipped with standard safety gear as required. Syafii explained that the fire started in the lower middle section of the ship and spread rapidly towards the stern due to wind conditions. Crew members initially focused on firefighting efforts, and when the blaze became uncontrollable, they directed all passengers to the bow to don life jackets and abandon ship. The lifeboats and inflatable life rafts were located at the stern, the area most affected by the fire, making it impossible for the crew to deploy them. Deputy Minister of Transportation Suntana corroborated this, citing data from the Harbourmaster and Port Authority that recorded six lifeboats and 25 life rafts on board, sufficient for all passengers. Ferdinan Pondang, head of the ship operator’s Surabaya branch, also confirmed the presence of all safety equipment, including life jackets and fire extinguishers. He addressed passenger claims that no fire alarm sounded, stating that the alarm system was installed but he could not confirm whether it was activated during the incident. The search and rescue operation for the 238 people on board the Surabaya-Makassar ferry has officially ended, with five fatalities confirmed.