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South China Morning Post
22-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's recurring tragedy: deadly boat fire fuels urgent reform calls
A deadly ferry fire in Indonesia has reignited calls for sweeping reform of its maritime transport sector, with analysts blaming overcapacity, ageing fleets and weak enforcement for a string of recent boat disasters across the sprawling archipelago nation of over 17,000 islands. . On Sunday afternoon, a ferry was carrying more than double its declared passenger capacity when it caught fire off Talise Island, off the coast of Sulawesi, forcing dozens to jump into the sea and killing at least five people, according to the country's Maritime Security Agency. The vessel KM Barcelona V was travelling from the remote Talaud Islands to Manado in North Sulawesi A viral video shows passengers plunging into the water as the fire engulfs the vessel. Manado's rescue agency said 571 people were on board despite the ferry's manifest listing just 280 passengers and 15 crew members. Including the fire on Sunday, Indonesia has recorded at least three boat disasters alone this month, in addition to a string of other similar incidents in previous years, in a country where ferries are often the only mode of transport available for inter-island connections. On July 14, a speedboat carrying 18 passengers capsized due to a four-metre high wave in the waters around Mentawai in West Sumatra. All passengers were safe after they swam for six hours to the nearest shore. Rinto Wardana Samaloisa, regent of Mentawai Islands, told state news agency Antara that the ship was 'over capacity' as it was only allowed to carry 10 passengers. The vessel also lacked a radio for communication, and it did not have the permit to sail from the harbour master on duty due to 'extreme weather'.
Al Jazeera
21-07-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
Fire on Indonesia ferry kills three, over 500 passengers jump to safety
Three people have died and more than 500 others have been rescued after a ferry caught fire off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, emergency officials said. Passengers jumped overboard the KM Barcelona 5, as it sailed from Melonguane port in Talaud Islands district towards the city of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, after the fire broke out on Sunday, said the Indonesian coastguard. Photos and videos circulated on social media showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel. A video released by the Manado rescue agency showed a coastguard 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 after two passengers initially reported as dead were saved in a hospital, including a two-month-old baby whose lungs were filled with seawater. At least 568 people were rescued from the ferry, the national search and rescue agency said in a statement on Monday. A coastguard ship, six rescue vessels and several inflatable boats were deployed in the rescue operation, Franky Pasuna Sihombing, chief of the Manado navy base, told The Associated Press news agency. According to officials, the blaze is believed to have started on the upper deck. '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 the AFP news agency on Monday. 'Our post is still open 24 hours a day, in case families want to report about their missing relative.' One survivor described waking up to smoke filling the passenger deck. 'The air was full of smoke and everyone started panicking,' Johan Rumewo told Kompas TV after being evacuated to Manado port. 'I managed to grab a life jacket and jumped into the sea. I floated for about an hour before being rescued.' The ferry's log had registered only 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 about 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 another person. In 2018, more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in one of the world's deepest lakes on Sumatra Island.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Ferry Bursts into Flames with 280 Passengers Onboard, Forcing Many to Jump into the Sea to Escape Inferno
At 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. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ferry Bursts into Flames with 280 Passengers Onboard, Forcing Many to Jump into the Sea to Escape Inferno
NEED TO KNOW 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
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ferry Bursts into Flames with 280 Passengers Onboard, Forcing Many to Jump into the Sea to Escape Inferno
NEED TO KNOW 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
