Latest news with #George Leo Mercy Randang
Al Bawaba
21-07-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
Video: Ferry fire leaves 3 killed near Sulawesi, Indonesia
Published July 21st, 2025 - 06:21 GMT ALBAWABA - Indonesian officials said on Monday that three people were killed and 568 others were saved after a huge fire that broke out at a ferry off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. When the fire erupted on the ferry, passengers jumped into the sea to save their lives as they wore lifejackets. According to the Indonesian coast guard, the KM Barcelona 5 was heading to Manado when the fire broke out on Sunday. People jumping into the sea after a ferry fire near Sulawesi, Indonesia. (X) Videos were shared on social media showing huge smoke rising from the Indonesian ferry, and showing people jumping off the ship to save their lives. "Until now, the joint rescue team is still conducting the search and rescue operation because the data is still developing," Manado rescue agency head George Leo Mercy Randang said to AFP. George Leo Mercy Randang added, "Our post is still open 24 hours a day, in case families want to report about their missing relative." © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Indonesia ferry fire kills three, more than 500 rescued
Three people died and more than 500 others were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, emergency officials said Monday. Passengers jumped overboard with lifejackets after the fire broke out on Sunday at the stern of the KM Barcelona 5, as it sailed to Manado, according to the Indonesian coast guard. A video released by the Manado rescue agency showed a coast guard vessel spraying water on the ferry, which was emitting black smoke. Indonesian authorities previously reported five people died in the accident, but later revised the death toll to three. "Until now, the joint rescue team is still conducting the search and rescue operation because the data is still developing," Manado rescue agency head George Leo Mercy Randang told AFP on Monday. "Our post is still open 24 hours a day, in case families want to report about their missing relative." At least 568 people were rescued from the ferry and water while three others were found dead, the national search and rescue agency said in a statement Monday. The ferry's log had only registered 280 passengers and 15 crew on board. Local media reported that the ship had a capacity for 600 people. Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in the Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, in part due to lax safety standards or bad weather. Sunday's fire came just weeks after another ferry sank off the popular resort island of Bali due to bad weather, killing at least 19 people. In March, a boat carrying 16 people capsized in rough waters off Bali, killing an Australian woman and injuring at least one other person. And in 2018, more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in one of the world's deepest lakes on Sumatra Island. dsa/ebe/dhw
CNA
20-07-2025
- General
- CNA
5 dead after ferry catches fire off Indonesia's Sulawesi island; passengers jump for safety
JAKARTA: An Indonesian ferry fire killed at least five people on Sunday (Jul 20), the country's coast guard said, while more than 200 others were saved with many jumping overboard to flee the huge blaze. Dramatic footage of passengers jumping into the sea made the rounds on social media after the KM Barcelona 5 ferry was engulfed in flames off the coast of Sulawesi island, Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency said. The incident came just weeks after at least 19 people were killed when a ferry sank off the popular resort island of Bali. "Five people were reported dead, two of whom have yet to be identified. Meanwhile, 284 people have been evacuated safely," the agency, also known as Bakamla, said in a statement. The fire broke out at the ferry's stern as it was on its way to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, with some passengers jumping overboard with life jackets, the statement said. Local media reported that the vessel was ferrying 280 passengers and was scheduled to dock at Manado Port. Fishermen also helped evacuate the victims to nearby islands, while those injured were taken to the nearest health facility, Bakamla added. The accident happened about one hour away from the resort town of Likupang, in the northern tip of Sulawesi, Manado search and rescue agency head, George Leo Mercy Randang, told AFP. A video released by the Manado agency showed a Bakamla vessel spraying water on the ferry, which was still emitting thin black smoke. "What is important is that we are prioritising rescue before nightfall," George told AFP, without confirming the total number of people who were on board the ferry. Neither he nor Bakamla gave a cause for the fire. Videos of the vessel fire went viral on TikTok, with some reportedly taken by passengers who had jumped aboard for safety. Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen in the background as passengers floated in the water. In another clip posted on Tiktok by user Soalunsrat, passengers on the vessel were seen hurriedly putting on life vests even as others were seen panicking and attempting to make calls on their mobile phones.
