Five dead and 41 missing after ferry catches fire sparking huge search and rescue mission for 250 stranded passengers

FIVE people are dead and another 41 remain missing after a ferry carrying hundreds went up in flames off the coast of Indonesia.

A frantic search and rescue operation is underway with crews deployed on emergency vessels to evacuate the boat.

Chaos struck just hours after Mutiara Sentosa 2 departed a port in Surabaya heading for Makassar.

The ferry was carrying around 250 passengers and crew when the blaze erupted close to Madura island.

Shocking footage shows huge plumes of thick black smoke billowing from the top decks.

Terrified passengers jumped overboard, plunging into the sea to escape the flames.

Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, said: “TB Hasnur 26 and the British Mentor are assisting in evacuating passengers who jumped from KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2.

“Four vessels are now alongside the ferry.”

Most of the ferry was engulfed by the inferno, reports said, forcing passengers onto the bridge and the bow to await evacuation.

Authorities said around 200 passengers had been transferred to rescue vessels.

But 40 people remained onboard at around 11.20am as the fire raged inside.

Images show dozens of survivors wearing life jackets packed into boats as they were driven to shore.

The Surabaya Search and Rescue Office was alerted to the fire at 8.24am.

According to Nanang, the ferry was located about 19 nautical miles from Buruan Sapudi Island.

The captain reported the fire between 6am and 7am before communication was lost.

Nanang said the first ship to reach the stricken ship was forced to turn back because it was carrying flammable cargo.

The cause of the fire remains unclear.

It comes after a pregnant woman was among five dead after a ferry erupted in flames off the Indonesian coast last year.

Chaos erupted as terrified passengers strapped on life jackets and leapt off the burning KM Barcelona VA.

Authorities said 284 of the passengers and crew were rescued, and no injuries were reported.

A brave survivor filmed himself clinging to a baby in the sea after leaping off the burning ferry.

Commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command Denih Hendrata said three navy ships had been deployed.