Indonesian Ferry Catches Fire at Sea, Leaving at Least 5 Dead
A passenger ferry carrying hundreds caught fire at sea on Sunday near Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, killing at least five people, according to officials. Over 280 people have been rescued so far, with evacuation efforts still underway.
The KM Barcelona 5 was en route from Talaud, an island district in North Sulawesi, to the provincial capital Manado when the fire broke out near Talise, said Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata of the Indonesian Fleet Command.
Three navy ships were dispatched for the rescue, and 284 passengers and crew have been evacuated. Local fishermen also joined the effort, saving survivors wearing life jackets who were found drifting toward nearby islands in rough seas.
Rescuers have recovered five bodies, including that of a pregnant woman.There were no immediate reports of injuries, and authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of passengers and crew onboard the ferry.
“We are still focusing on evacuation efforts,” said Vice Adm. Hendrata, noting that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Photos and videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed terrified passengers, many in life jackets, leaping into the sea as thick black smoke and orange flames engulfed the vessel.
Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. However, maritime accidents are common, often attributed to poor safety enforcement.
In a separate incident, residents of the Mentawai Islands discovered several people stranded on July 14 after a speedboat carrying 18 passengers capsized during a storm the previous day. Authorities confirmed that all were found in good condition.
Earlier this month, a ferry sank near Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali, resulting in at least 19 fatalities and 16 people still missing. The massive two-week search operation involved over 1,000 rescuers, including the deployment of three navy ships, 15 boats, a helicopter, and teams of divers.
