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A deadly blaze engulfed the KM Barcelona 5 ferry off the northern coast of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Sunday, killing at least five people and forcing hundreds more to leap into the open sea to survive. The vessel was heading toward Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when fire erupted at the rear section, quickly spreading across the deck.
The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency confirmed that 284 individuals were safely evacuated. Tragically, five lives were lost—two of whom remain unidentified. Injured passengers were rushed to nearby clinics, while uninjured survivors were taken to the closest islands for temporary shelter.
With flames swallowing parts of the ferry, panic took hold. Many passengers, some still clinging to their belongings, donned life jackets and jumped overboard. Local fishermen responded quickly, aiding the coast guard in the frantic rescue operation.
Rescue vessels from the Manado search and rescue agency arrived to battle the blaze and assist in evacuation efforts. A video from the scene shows a Bakamla patrol ship dousing the smoldering wreck with water as smoke lingered in the air.
The incident occurred roughly one hour from the resort town of Likupang. Authorities are racing against time to complete the search before nightfall, with no official word yet on the total number of passengers who had boarded the ferry.
This is the second major ferry disaster in Indonesia this month. Earlier, a ferry capsized near Bali, killing 19 people—a tragedy blamed on severe weather. These incidents underscore Indonesia’s ongoing struggle with maritime safety, often marked by overcrowding, outdated vessels, and inadequate enforcement of safety standards.
Indonesia’s vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands makes ferry transport essential for many, but also perilous. In 2018, over 150 people perished when a ferry sank into Lake Toba in Sumatra, one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the country’s history.
As investigations begin, families are left grieving and survivors recount moments of fear and desperation. No cause has been confirmed for the fire aboard the KM Barcelona 5, but authorities have vowed to look into safety protocols.
The government now faces renewed pressure to overhaul its maritime transport policies. Without urgent reforms, tragedies like this will continue to cost lives in one of the world's most ferry-dependent nations.
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