Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia's Transportation Ministry deployed coast guard patrol vessels and coordinated with search and rescue authorities after a ferry caught fire in the Java Sea, killing five people and prompting the evacuation of 232 passengers and crew.Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Masyhud said on Sunday that the government's immediate priority was ensuring the safe and swift evacuation of everyone aboard the KM Mutiara Sentosa II.”Our main focus is ensuring the evacuation of all passengers and crew is carried out quickly, safely, and as effectively as possible,” Masyhud said.According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. local time in waters north of Sumenep, East Java.The Transportation Ministry received the initial report at about 8:30 a.m. local time and immediately coordinated with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and other relevant authorities.As part of the initial response, the ministry's Sea Transportation Directorate, through the Kalianget Vessel Traffic Service Station, broadcast a maritime distress alert, while the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard deployed the patrol vessel KN Grantin P.211 and readied the KN Masalembo to support rescue efforts.Masyhud said the cargo vessel Meratus Project 3 was among the first ships to locate the KM Mutiara Sentosa II, but it could not evacuate passengers because it was carrying hazardous cargo. Other nearby vessels subsequently conducted the rescue operation.The Sea Transportation Directorate said evacuation efforts were continuing with support from several commercial vessels, while the cause of the fire remained under investigation.The Transportation Ministry said it would continue monitoring the situation and provide further updates after all information has been verified.Earlier, Basarnas said 232 people had been evacuated from the burning KM Mutiara Sentosa II in waters north of Sumenep as of 6:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, including 227 survivors and five fatalities.Nanang Sigit PH, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, said the evacuation was carried out by joint rescue teams assisted by several vessels operating near the scene.”Preliminary data as of 6:00 p.m. show that 232 people have been evacuated, comprising 227 survivors and five fatalities,” Nanang said.