MANADO, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian rescuers have successfully evacuated over 560 people from a passenger ferry, the KM Barcelona 5, which caught fire at sea. Tragically, three individuals lost their lives during the incident that unfolded on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
The fire erupted around midday while the ferry was en route to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, from Melonguane port in the Talaud Islands district. According to First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing, the chief of the Manado navy base, the rescue operation was extensive, involving a coast guard ship, six rescue vessels, and several inflatable boats.
Rescue teams managed to pull many passengers from the turbulent waters and transported them to nearby islands. Local fishermen also played a vital role in the operation, rescuing survivors who had jumped into the sea, many of whom were equipped with life jackets. Eyewitness accounts and footage shared on social media displayed terrified passengers leaping into the water as flames and thick black smoke billowed from the vessel.
The search and rescue efforts continued into the following day, though no immediate reports of individuals still missing were noted. Initial reports had indicated that five people died, but the National Search and Rescue Agency revised the number to three after two individuals initially reported dead were found alive in the hospital, including a 2-month-old baby whose lungs had been filled with seawater.
The fire, which originated from the stern of the ferry, was successfully extinguished within an hour. The ferry's manifest initially recorded only 280 passengers and 15 crew members. However, authorities confirmed that 568 survivors had been rescued, with three bodies recovered, one of which was a pregnant woman. Discrepancies in passenger numbers are common in Indonesia, complicating search and rescue operations.
The KM Barcelona 5 has a capacity of 600 people, highlighting the severe risk of overcrowding that frequently occurs in Indonesia’s ferry system. With over 17,000 islands, ferries are a common means of transportation in the archipelago, yet accidents occur often due to weak enforcement of safety regulations.
This incident follows several maritime accidents in the region, including a speedboat capsize on July 14, where all 18 occupants were rescued. Earlier in the month, a ferry sank near Bali, resulting in at least 19 fatalities and 16 others missing, prompting a massive search operation involving over 600 rescue personnel.
In conclusion, the KM Barcelona 5 ferry fire underscores the critical challenges facing Indonesia's maritime safety, emphasizing the need for stringent safety protocols to prevent such disasters in the future.
