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10 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 23m ago

Still Watching

Five dead, 41 missing, after Indonesia ferry catches fire

ABC News Australia Top Stories and The Sun (US) describe the same event in different terms.

0 Left6 Center4 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of August 2, 2026 at 12:33 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened The vessel with 271 people on board caught fire off Madura island.
The headline split The center frames it as "Five dead, 41 missing, after Indonesia ferry catches fire". The right frames it as "Five dead and 41 missing after ferry catches fire sparking huge search and rescue mission...".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 10 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

10 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceModerate

54/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

CenterFive dead, 41 missing, after Indonesia ferry catches fire

BBC World · Center · News report

Right / center-rightFive dead, 41 missing after ferry catches fire near island in Indonesia

The Jerusalem Post · Center-right · News report

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
BBC WorldNews report · Aug 2, 10:02 AM

Five dead, 41 missing, after Indonesia ferry catches fire

The vessel with 271 people on board caught fire off Madura island.

Open source
Center-rightMostly Factual
The Jerusalem PostNews report · Aug 2, 12:33 PM

Five dead, 41 missing after ferry catches fire near island in Indonesia

Search and rescue is working to rescue people from the water after the ferry carrying 250 people caught fire.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
CNA SingaporeNews report · Aug 2, 10:56 AM

Five dead, 41 missing in Indonesia ferry fire

A total of 225 people on the vessel were rescued, said the regional Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency, which provided the latest figures in an afternoon update.

Open source
RightMixed
The SunNews report · Aug 2, 10:38 AM

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...

Open source
RightMixed
The Sun (US)News report · Aug 2, 10:38 AM

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...

Open source
CenterHigh
ABC News Australia Top StoriesNews report · Aug 2, 10:09 AM

Breaking: Five dead, 41 missing after Indonesian ferry catches fire

Five people have been found dead and 41 are missing after an Indonesian ferry with 271 people on board caught fire while at sea, search and rescue officials say.

Open source
Show all 10 sources
Center-rightHigh
Sky NewsNews report · Aug 2, 10:05 AM

At least five dead and 41 missing after Indonesian ferry catches fire

At least five people have died and 41 are missing after a ferry caught fire off the coast of an Indonesian island, officials have said.

Open source
CenterHigh
India TodayNews report · Aug 2, 9:34 AM

5 killed, 41 missing after ferry catches fire in Indonesia

killed missing after ferry catches fire in Indonesia

Open source
Details54/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 10 sources
54/99 Wording GapMedium confidence10 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 10 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Aug 2, 9:34 AM: India Today joined the source map.

Aug 2, 9:34 AM: The Times of India joined the source map.

Aug 2, 9:58 AM: The Indian Express joined the source map.

Aug 2, 10:02 AM: BBC World joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 54/99 and story health is live match · 10 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.