At least five people, including a pregnant woman, died after a ferry carrying over 280 passengers caught fire near North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Sunday.
When the tragedy struck, the ferry, KM Barcelona VA, was traveling from Talaud, an island district in the province, to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province.
According to reports, the vessel got engulfed in flames around 12.00 pm (local time), causing panic at the passengers who were spotted jumping overboard into choppy waters. Most of them wore bright orange life jackets.
Commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command Denih Hendrata said 284 passengers and crew members have been evacuated so far, with three navy ships deployed to assist. He added that they also received help from the local fishermen.
Among those who lost their lives was a pregnant woman, Nuriadin Gumeleng, public relations officer for the Manado SAR Office, told local news site Harian Jogja. “Currently, only one person has been identified as having died, a pregnant woman. Her body is now on land.”
The exact number of people on the ferry is still unknown as it is not uncommon for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry to differ from the manifest in Indonesia. These discrepancies may indicate overcrowding, making rescue efforts more challenging, says navy First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing.
Although the ferry’s manifest reported only 280 passengers and 15 crew members on board, authorities confirmed by Monday afternoon that 575 individuals had been rescued. Among them was a 2-month-old baby whose condition is now stable after inhaling seawater.
In a chilling broadcast uploaded to Facebook, a passenger named Abdul Rahmad Agu could be heard pleading, “We are burning at sea… we need help… fast…” Later, he spoke to the media and said, “Almost everyone panicked, the smoke was thick from the back of the boat, then the fishermen started to transport children to their boats first.”
The cause of the fire is unknown.
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