According to media reports, the ferry was carrying 250 people at the time of the mishap.

The captain of the ship reported the fire - off Madura island - as the vessel sailed from the country's second-largest city, Surabaya in East Java, to Makassar in South Sulawesi, according to Basarnas, the National Search and Rescue Agency, reported BBC.

Several unconfirmed videos of the incident that went viral showed people climbing down from the ferry that has flames and plumes of smoke coming from the top of the vessel.

Sumenep Police public relations chief Widiarti told ANTARA news agency: "Nine vessels have been dispatched to carry out the evacuation."

The vessels deplaoyed to carry out the rescue operation include  KN Search and Rescue (SAR) 249 Permadi, a rescue boat from the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, a Sumenep SAR post vessel, a Surabaya Harbormaster vessel, a Surabaya Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) vessel, an SROP Kalianget vessel, a KSOP Kalianget vessel, Meratur Project 3, and TB Hasnur 26.

“We have also deployed police personnel from nearby precincts to assist with the rescue team,” Widiarti said.