In Indonesia, rescuers evacuated more than 560 people from the passenger ferry KM Barcelona 5. It caught fire at sea near the province of North Sulawesi.
Points of attention
- Passenger ferry KM Barcelona 5 with over 560 people on board caught fire off the coast of Indonesia, resulting in three casualties and two rescues.
- The fire started as the ferry was heading from the port of Melonguan to Manado, the provincial capital, triggering a swift rescue operation involving coast guard ships, rescue boats, and local fishermen.
- Video footage showed passengers jumping into the water in panic as the vessel burned, with no reports of missing persons at present.
Ferry carrying passengers catches fire off Indonesian coast
According to official figures, three people died, and two more were rescued, despite the fact that they were initially considered dead.
The fire started around noon on Sunday as the ferry was heading from the port of Melonguan to Manado, the provincial capital. The vessel was on a regular route.
Among those rescued was a two-month-old baby whose lungs were cleared of seawater in the hospital.
First Admiral Frankie Pasuni Sihombing said a coast guard ship, six rescue boats and several inflatable boats were involved in the rescue operation.
Local fishermen also joined the rescue, finding passengers in life jackets right in the open sea.
🚨BREAKING🚨
— Grifty (@TheGriftReport) July 20, 2025
3 dead, 150 rescued after ferry catches fire in waters off Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province... THIS IS CRAZY!!!! pic.twitter.com/vJNO9TRGvQ
Video from the scene showed people jumping into the water in panic, abandoning the burning vessel, with thick black smoke rising from the ship.
The search and rescue operation is ongoing. There are currently no reports of missing persons.
