At least five people lost their lives on Sunday after a ferry caught fire off the coast of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, the country’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) confirmed. The ferry, KM Barcelona 5, was en route to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when the blaze erupted, prompting a dramatic rescue operation that saved over 280 passengers.
According to Bakamla, the fire began at the stern of the vessel, triggering panic among those on board. Many passengers, equipped with life jackets, jumped overboard to escape the growing inferno. The agency reported that 284 individuals were safely evacuated, while five fatalities were recorded, including two people who are yet to be identified.
Local fishermen played a crucial role in the rescue efforts, ferrying victims to nearby islands before they were transferred to health facilities for treatment. Authorities, including the Manado search and rescue team, responded swiftly, deploying vessels to combat the fire and assist survivors. Footage released by the Manado agency showed a coast guard ship dousing the ferry with water as smoke billowed from the charred remains.
The disaster occurred about an hour from the tourist town of Likupang, a popular destination in northern Sulawesi. Rescue teams prioritized operations before nightfall amid uncertainty over the total number of passengers onboard.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.
This latest tragedy underscores the recurring issue of maritime safety in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of around 17,000 islands. Marine accidents are frequent due to poor safety standards, overcrowding, and unpredictable weather. Earlier this month, at least 19 people died when another ferry sank in rough seas near Bali. In March, a separate boating accident near the same island claimed the life of an Australian woman.
The deadliest recent incident occurred in 2018, when over 150 passengers drowned after a ferry sank in Lake Toba, one of the world’s deepest lakes located on Sumatra island.
As authorities continue to investigate the KM Barcelona 5 fire, the incident reignites calls for improved maritime regulations and enforcement to prevent future tragedies in Indonesia’s busy waterways.
