Ferry Fire Off Indonesian Coast: Three Dead, Over 500 Rescued

A fire broke out on a passenger ferry off the coast of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, on Sunday, killing at least three people. Over 500 people were rescued from the burning ferry, called KM Barcelona 5, which was on its way to Manado.

The fire started at the back of the ship. Some passengers jumped into the sea with lifejackets to escape the flames. Videos showed the ferry covered in thick black smoke while rescue boats tried to save people and put out the fire.

At first, officials said five people had died, but later confirmed that the number was three. The rescue team said they are still looking for missing people and will keep the search center open day and night.

The ferry’s passenger list showed only 280 people and 15 crew, but over 568 people were rescued. This has raised concerns that the ferry was carrying too many passengers.

Ferry accidents are common in Indonesia due to weak safety rules and bad weather. Earlier this month, another ferry sank near Bali, killing at least 19 people. In 2018, over 150 people died when a ferry sank in Lake Toba.

The Indonesian government is now investigating what caused the fire and whether the ferry was overcrowded. Rescue operations are still ongoing.