Passenger Ship Blaze Claims 3 Lives in Indonesia's Waters

A devastating fire broke out on the KM Barcelona 5, a passenger ship operating in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, leading to the loss of at least three lives, while many remain unaccounted for.

In a harrowing incident on Sunday morning, a fire engulfed the KM Barcelona 5, a passenger ship carrying over 200 individuals while en route to Manado from the Talaud Islands in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province. Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, confirmed that at least three fatalities occurred as a result of the blaze.

Footage released by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) depicted the disturbing scene, with black smoke billowing from the vessel as rescue boats navigated through the waters. Passengers were seen donning life jackets and being rescued from the compromised ship amidst the chaos.

The agency reported approximately 280 people were aboard the KM Barcelona 5 at the time of the fire, but the exact number of rescued, injured, or missing remains uncertain. Search and rescue operations were launched, deploying two larger ships alongside smaller inflatable boats to assist in the recovery efforts.

The cause of the fire and the identity of the ship's operating company are still under investigation. Incidents related to ferry safety are not uncommon in Indonesia, an extensive archipelago with over 17,000 islands, where passenger ships are a primary mode of transportation. Just this month, another tragedy befell the KMT Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry, which sank while heading to Bali, resulting in five confirmed deaths and 29 individuals still missing.

As investigations into this latest disaster continue, safety measures in Indonesia's transport sector are under increased scrutiny, echoing calls for improved regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.