Passenger Ferry Fire in Indonesia Claims Lives, Sparks Major Rescue
Tragedy struck off the coast of Sulawesi island in Indonesia on Sunday as a passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people caught fire at sea, resulting in at least five confirmed fatalities.
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The KM Barcelona 5, en route to Manado from Talaud, was engulfed in flames near Talise Island in North Sulawesi Province... Read complete content click link below
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According to Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata of the Indonesian Fleet Command, the vessel was carrying a large number of passengers and crew when the fire broke out. Rescue teams, including the Indonesian Navy and local fishermen, swiftly launched an emergency response. As of now, 284 individuals have been successfully evacuated.
Among the five confirmed casualties was a pregnant woman. While rescue operations are still underway, authorities have not yet released a definitive count of the total number of people aboard the ferry. No immediate injuries have been reported beyond the fatalities, but officials are prioritizing ongoing search and evacuation efforts.
“We are still focusing on evacuation efforts,” said Vice Adm. Hendrata, adding that the origin of the blaze remains under investigation.
Videos and images from the National Search and Rescue Agency revealed harrowing scenes: terrified passengers—many clad in life jackets—leaping into the sea as flames and thick smoke consumed the ferry. The fire reportedly erupted while the ferry was navigating rough waters, further complicating rescue operations.
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Indonesia, an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for inter-island transportation. However, the country’s maritime safety record has long been a concern. Frequent ferry incidents have been attributed to lax safety protocols, overcrowding, and aging vessels.
This is not the first maritime disaster to hit Indonesia in recent weeks.
On July 14, residents of the Mentawai Islands discovered survivors from a capsized speedboat carrying 18 people. Fortunately, all were found in good condition. Earlier this month, another ferry sank near Bali, killing at least 19 passengers and leaving 16 others missing. The extensive two-week search involved over 1,000 rescuers, navy ships, helicopters, and divers.
As rescue teams continue efforts to locate any remaining survivors from the KM Barcelona 5, officials emphasize the urgency of strengthening safety measures across the country’s ferry network to prevent future tragedies.
Source: CNN
