Indonesian passenger ferry catches hearth at sea, killing a minimum of 5

A passenger ferry carrying tons of of individuals caught hearth at sea on Sunday (July 20, 2025) off Sulawesi island in Indonesia, killing a minimum of 5 individuals, officers stated. More than 280 individuals had been rescued and evacuation efforts had been ongoing.

The KM Barcelona 5 was headed to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, from Talaud, an island district within the province, when it caught hearth in waters close to Talise, stated Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command.

He stated that three navy ships had been deployed, and 284 passengers and crew members had been evacuated up to now. The rescue operation included help from native fishermen, who saved some survivors carrying life jackets as they had been drifting to close by islands within the uneven waters.

Rescuers retrieved 5 our bodies, together with a pregnant girl. There had been no rapid experiences of accidents, and no actual figures of passengers and crew members onboard the ferry.

“We are nonetheless specializing in evacuation efforts,” Mr. Hendrata stated, including that the reason for the fireplace was being investigated.

Photos and movies launched by the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) confirmed terrified passengers, largely carrying life jackets, leaping into the ocean. Orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel.

Indonesia is an archipelago of greater than 17,000 islands the place ferries are a typical technique of journey. Disasters happen usually, with weak security enforcement usually blamed.

Residents of the Mentawai Islands discovered a number of individuals stranded on July 14 after a speedboat carrying 18 individuals capsized throughout a storm the day earlier than, authorities stated. All had been in good situation.

A ferry sank close to Indonesia’s resort island of Bali early this month, leaving a minimum of 19 useless and 16 others lacking. A two-week search operation concerned greater than 1,000 rescuers, three navy ships, 15 boats, a helicopter and divers.