Passenger ferry in Indonesia catches fire at sea, 5 killed

Hundreds were rescued after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island.

A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people caught fire off the coast of North Sulawesi in Indonesia on Sunday, killing at least five people and triggering a large-scale maritime rescue.

The vessel, KM Barcelona 5, was traveling from the remote island district of the Talaud Islands toward Manado, the provincial capital of North Sulawesi, when the blaze broke out in the waters near the northern coast. Coast guard ships and local fishermen responded swiftly, pulling survivors from the sea.

Officials said 284 people had been rescued so far, while five bodies were recovered, including a pregnant woman. The total number of passengers and crew aboard remains unknown.

Images released by emergency services showed thick black smoke rising from the ferry as passengers jumped into the choppy waters. Some were found drifting with life jackets near small islands.

“We are still focused on evacuation,” said Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata of the Indonesian Fleet Command. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Indonesia has a long history of deadly maritime accidents, with overcrowding and weak safety enforcement often cited. Earlier this month, 19 people died and 16 went missing after a ferry sank near Bali. Last week, a capsized speedboat near the Mentawai Islands stranded 18 people, and all were later found alive.

There is no immediate comment from the ferry’s operator or investigation officials.

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