Surabaya. Search and rescue teams have evacuated 227 passengers and crew from the ferry KM Mutiara Sentosa II after it caught fire off the northern coast of Madura Island, East Java, while five people were confirmed dead, authorities said on Sunday.

Preliminary data from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) showed that the survivors were rescued by several vessels that happened to be near the scene and joined the emergency response alongside official rescue teams.

The Meratus Pematang Siantar rescued the largest number of victims, evacuating 109 survivors and recovering two bodies, according to Basarnas.

The tugboat TB Hasnur 26 rescued 65 survivors and recovered one body, while Transco Arafura evacuated 17 survivors. Meratus Project 3 rescued 13 people and recovered another victim.

Five additional vessels -- Prakarsa Mas, SC Aila XVII, Icon Daniel, Selaras Mas, and British Mentor --also participated in the rescue operation.

Search teams, assisted by police and military personnel, continued looking for other possible victims on Sunday. According to a preliminary passenger manifest, the ferry was carrying about 250 people before the fire broke out earlier in the day.

As of 3:30 p.m., aerial surveillance showed the ferry still emitting smoke while most of the vessels involved in the evacuation had departed the scene.