More than 560 people were rescued, and three were confirmed dead after an Indonesian passenger ferry caught fire at sea on Sunday, authorities confirmed Monday.
Ferry bursting into flames/Picture from MadonsaIqbal/X video post
The KM Barcelona 5 was en route from Melonguane Port in the Talaud Islands to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when the blaze broke out around midday, said First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing, commander of the Manado Navy Base.
A coordinated rescue effort involving a Coast Guard ship, six rescue vessels, and several inflatable boats quickly responded to the scene. Local fishermen also aided the operation, pulling survivors from the water, many of whom had jumped overboard wearing life jackets as flames engulfed the vessel.
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Videos and images shared on social media showed passengers leaping into the sea while thick black smoke and flames poured from the ferry’s stern. The fire was brought under control within an hour, Sihombing said.
Initially, the ferry’s manifest listed 280 passengers and 15 crew members. However, the National Search and Rescue Agency later confirmed that 568 people were rescued, well below the ferry’s 600-person capacity but far more than listed. Three fatalities were recorded, including a pregnant woman.
Api dikapal km barcelona 5a berhadil dipadamkan pic.twitter.com/DNVFOSBAbu
— Iqbal Madonsa (@MadonsaIqbal) July 20, 2025
Authorities had earlier reported five deaths, but that figure was revised after two passengers initially presumed dead, including a two-month-old baby who had inhaled seawater, were revived in the hospital.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transport. However, maritime disasters are common due to poor safety enforcement and unreliable passenger records.
The discrepancy between the ferry’s official manifest and the actual number of passengers is not unusual, and it complicates emergency responses, Sihombing noted.
Adegan mengharukan saat balita di selamatkan dari laut tempat kapal barcelona 5a tenggelam dipulau talise minahasa utara sulut pic.twitter.com/kH1OqUa4S0
— Iqbal Madonsa (@MadonsaIqbal) July 20, 2025
This incident follows a string of maritime accidents in the country. Earlier this month, at least 19 people died when a ferry sank near Bali, and just last week, all 18 passengers aboard a speedboat were rescued after it capsized during a storm.
Authorities say the search operation will continue as a precaution, though no passengers are currently reported missing.
Source: AP News
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