At least five people have died and hundreds more were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the coast of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Sunday, officials confirmed. The vessel, KM Barcelona 5, was en route to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when the blaze erupted at the rear of the ship.
Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency, also known as Bakamla, said in a statement that 284 people were safely evacuated, though two of the five deceased victims have yet to be identified. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
As the flames quickly spread, many passengers were forced to jump overboard wearing life jackets to escape the inferno. Fishermen in the area joined the rescue effort, helping ferry survivors to nearby islands. Those injured were transported to the nearest health facilities for treatment, Bakamla said.
The incident occurred about an hour from the tourist town of Likupang. Head of the Manado search and rescue agency, George Leo Mercy Randang, told AFP that rescuers were racing against time to complete evacuations before nightfall. A video released by his agency showed a Bakamla ship attempting to extinguish the blaze, with the ferry still emitting black smoke.
Authorities have yet to confirm how many people were originally on board. Neither Bakamla nor the search and rescue agency has provided information on what triggered the fire.
Marine accidents are all too common in Indonesia, an archipelago of around 17,000 islands, where lax safety regulations, aging vessels, and unpredictable weather often contribute to disasters. Just weeks ago, at least 19 people were killed when a ferry sank off the coast of Bali due to severe weather conditions. In March, another maritime tragedy off Bali resulted in the death of an Australian tourist.
One of the country’s deadliest ferry disasters occurred in 2018, when over 150 people drowned after a ferry sank in Lake Toba, one of the world’s deepest volcanic lakes in Sumatra.
The Indonesian government continues to face pressure to improve maritime safety standards, especially as ferries remain a crucial mode of transport for millions across the sprawling island nation.
Written By Rodney Mbua
