Indonesia Ferry Catches Fire, Passengers Jump into the sea to escape leaping flames | WATCH

A catastrophic fire tore through the KM Barcelona VA ferry off North Sulawesi’s Talise Island on Sunday, July 20, 2025, killing at least three people, including a pregnant woman, and forcing over 150 passengers to leap into the sea to escape raging flames and thick black smoke. The blaze, which erupted around 1:00 p.m. local time as the vessel sailed from the Talaud Islands to Manado Port, has left an estimated 130 passengers unaccounted for, with rescue operations ongoing in a desperate bid to locate survivors.

The KM Barcelona VA, a key transport link carrying approximately 280 passengers and crew, was navigating the waters of North Sulawesi when the fire broke out on its lower decks. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the ship and creating a scene of chaos as passengers donned orange life jackets and jumped overboard, some clinging to debris or each other for survival. One passenger, Abdul Rahmad Agu, livestreamed the ordeal on Facebook, holding a screaming infant while pleading for rescue, shouting, “The KM Barcelona V is on fire. There are still many people on board.” Another survivor, Alwina Inang, wife of a Talaud Islands police official, recounted eating with family when smoke overwhelmed the ship’s bridge, forcing her to jump into the sea, where she floated for nearly an hour before being rescued.

Rescue efforts mobilized quickly, with the Indonesian navy, coastguard, local fishermen, and nearby vessels, including KM Barcelona III, KM Venecian, and KM Cantika Lestari 9F, rushing to the scene. By Sunday evening, authorities confirmed nearly 150 survivors had been pulled from the water, though many were unconscious after hours adrift. Eighteen passengers, including children, sustained injuries and were transported to nearby medical facilities. Search and rescue teams, equipped with inflatable boats and supported by dive resort vessels, are scouring the area for those still missing. The exact number of unaccounted passengers remains uncertain due to potential inaccuracies in the ferry’s manifest, a persistent issue in Indonesia’s maritime sector.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with early speculation pointing to a possible engine room malfunction, though no official confirmation has been provided. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, currently traveling in Saudi Arabia, ordered an immediate emergency response to support rescue efforts and aid survivors. The incident follows another deadly ferry disaster on July 2, 2025, when the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank off Bali, claiming six lives. Indonesia’s reliance on ferries to connect its 17,000-plus islands has long been plagued by safety concerns, including overloading, lax regulations, and vulnerability to rough seas.

As rescue operations continue into the night, the focus remains on locating survivors and determining the fire’s cause. The tragedy, marked by heart-wrenching images of passengers fleeing the burning vessel, has reignited calls for stricter maritime oversight in Indonesia, with the fate of dozens still hanging in the balance.