Ferry Bursts into Flames with 280 Passengers Onboard, Forcing Many to Jump into the Sea to Escape Inferno
A fire tore through a ferry carrying 280 passengers while off the coast of Indonesia on Sunday, July 20
Footage shared on social media shows passengers leaping into the sea to escape the inferno
At least one person has died amid the blaze, according to local news outlet Jakarta GlobeAt least one person has died and the death toll is expected to rise after a ferry burst into flames off the coast of Indonesia.
On Sunday, July 20, the KM Barcelona VA vessel was traveling between the Talaud Islands and Manado when it caught fire at approximately 12:00 p.m. local time, near Talisei Island, local news outlets IDN Times and Jakarta Globe reported.
The ferry was carrying 280 passengers at the time of the blaze, according to the outlets. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed at this time.
In harrowing footage posted on X, passengers can be seen jumping off the burning boat into the sea while wearing life jackets as flames and thick black smoke arise from the top of the ship. Screams and cries can be heard as several people float in the water waiting to be rescued.
One person has died in the incident, IDN Times reported. It is not yet known whether the person died in the inferno or drowned.
A passenger identified as Abdul Rahmad Agu showed himself holding a toddler after escaping the ferry in a Facebook livestream while calling for help.
In another video shared on X, the fire can be seen blazing through the inside of the ferry on the upper deck. Passengers on the lower level scrambled to get their belongings in what appeared to be a sleeping area.
The Manado Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) sent three ships for rescue and evacuation, IDN Times reported. "There are KM Barcelona III, KM Venecian, and KM Cantika Lestari 9F," the Manado KSOP officer told the outlet.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Nuriadin Gumeleng, a spokesperson for the North Sulawesi Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency said rescued passengers are being brought to the nearby Ganga Island.
'Our operation is currently focused on locating and rescuing any remaining passengers who may still be aboard the vessel,' Nuriadin said, according to Jakarta Globe.
In footage shared by Indonesian outlet KOMPASTV, local fishing boats are seen rescuing some of the passengers in the waters following the incident.
Passenger, Alwina Inang, alleged to the local news outlet Detik that she survived in the water for around an hour before being rescued.
"I was eating with the family of the Head of the Talaud Criminal Investigation Unit when suddenly flames of smoke entered the ship's bridge," said Alwina, who is the wife of the Head of Traffic Police of the Talaud Islands Police, Christian M, per Detik.
"We immediately jumped into the sea," Alwina added.
It is not known how many casualties there are this time.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Coast Guard and the national police for comment.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Worker rescued after construction equipment tips over in Oak Forest, Illinois
A worker was rescued after his construction equipment fell into a hole and tipped over early Friday morning in Oak Forest, Illinois. The Oak Forest Fire Department said they were called for an overturned crane with someone trapped inside at the Oak Forest Hospital grounds around 8:36 a.m. Fire crews, along with other agencies, were able to extricate and transport the patient to a local hospital. The worker's condition is unknown. No other injuries were reported. The worker was seen shaking hands with other workers before being placed inside the ambulance. No further information was immediately available.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Hundreds of spring-run salmon rescued after taking detour into Tuolumne River
More than 1,200 adult spring-run Chinook salmon meant to return to the San Joaquin River ended up in the Tuolumne River instead, prompting a five-part rescue operation. The fish were originally released as part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. But cooler, cleaner water and improved habitat conditions on the Tuolumne appeared to draw the fish off course, according to officials from the Turlock Irrigation District (TID). "Once the pulse flows had ended the plung pool was a little cut off from the main stem of the river," said Constance Anderson, communications division manager for TID. "So we had to figure out a plan to move them back into cleaner, cooler water." The salmon became trapped below the historic La Grange Diversion Dam after spring flows receded, isolating them in a plunge pool with limited oxygen and rising temperatures. In response, TID worked alongside the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, and the fisheries consulting firm FISHBIO to safely relocate the fish downstream. "When we discovered that there were salmon in what we call the plunge pool, we were able to move the fish, you know, at least about 50 feet from the plunge pool down to the main stem, to a more appropriate water source," said Josh Weimer, director of external affairs for TID. TID's construction team built a custom transport device, a chamber system designed to assist with fish relocation. Crews carried out five separate rescue missions after realizing just how many fish had gathered. "Initially, when we started the process, we didn't realize how abundant the fish were in the plunge pool," Anderson said. "Which was both very exciting and also meant that we had a few different relocation processes to go through to get them all out." Officials say the salmon were likely drawn to the Tuolumne due to restoration work already underway. TID and its partners, Modesto Irrigation District and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, have spent years improving habitat along the river, including adding clean gravel, expanding floodplain access and enhancing flows to support native fish. "We are doing habitat restoration. We are putting new gravel back into the river," Weimer said. "So hopefully we see larger and larger salmon runs in the future." The final group of fish was relocated about 10 days ago. The Tuolumne River Partners say they plan to install a segregation weir near Old La Grange Bridge to help manage future runs and prevent spring-run salmon from becoming stranded again.
Bloomberg
5 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Three Miners Freed From Newmont Mine After 60 Hours Underground
Three miners who were trapped behind fallen debris at a Canadian gold mine are safely back on the surface after what Newmont Corp. called a 'meticulously executed' rescue plan. Three Hy-Tech Drilling workers at Red Chris mine in northwest British Columbia were brought to the surface around 10:40 p.m. local time, after spending more than 60 hours underground, Newmont said Friday in an emailed statement. Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty are in good health and spirits, the company said.
