New Delhi: At least five people, including a pregnant woman, lost their lives after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of North Sulawesi in Indonesia on Sunday.
The large vessel, identified as KM Barcelona 5, was carrying around 290 people, sailing from Talaud Islands to Manado, when it was engulfed in flames near Talisei Island, reported AP.
Chaos broke out among passengers soon after thick, black smoke billowed and flames spread across the ferry’s upper decks rapidly.
Videos posted on social media showed scores of terrified passengers jumping into the sea, some wearing orange life jackets.
Here are some of the videos posted on X. (Caution: Some visuals may be disturbing. Viewer discretion advised)
🔴INDONESIA 🇮🇩| A major fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time aboard the KM Barcelona VA ferry off coast of Talise Island, North Sulawesi. The ferry was carrying +280 people from the Talaud Islands to Manado. Some passengers jumped into the sea amid the fire. 3 people died. pic.twitter.com/XwMyFzwTkT
— Nanana365 (@nanana365media) July 20, 2025
BREAKING: A fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time today on the KM Barcelona VA ferry off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The vessel, carrying over 280 people from the Talaud Islands to Manado City, forced passengers to leap into the sea. No confirmed casualties… pic.twitter.com/7zkSEk3ZMB
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) July 20, 2025
Inilah video proses evakuasi penumpang KM Barcelona oleh Tim SAR. Para penumpang dievakuasi menggunakan KN SAR Bima milik Basarnas.(20/7) #basarnas #timsar #sulawesiutara pic.twitter.com/YcgxPLUDSw
— @SAR_NASIONAL (@SAR_NASIONAL) July 20, 2025
A massive rescue effort was launched, with Vice-Admiral Denih Hendrata, Commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, confirming to news agencies that 284 passengers and crew members had been evacuated with assistance from three navy ships. Local fishermen also pitched in to the best of their might, rescuing those who drifted in the sea.
Till the evening, evacuation efforts were continuing, as the exact number of people on board the boat is unclear.
The cause of fire is under investigation.
Alwina Inang, wife of a local police official, was among the survivors. She told local media outlet Detik that passengers were eating when thick smoke suddenly entered the bridge. “We immediately jumped into the sea,” she said, adding that she gloated in the water for about an hour.