JAKARTA: A tragic fire on board a passenger ship off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, has claimed three lives while around 150 passengers were successfully rescued. The incident involved KM Barcelona 5, which was carrying approximately 280 passengers when it caught fire near the waters of Manado, the provincial capital, around 1.00 pm local time.
According to Veri Ariyanto, a senior official at the North Sulawesi Search and Rescue Office, the rescue operation involved both formal rescue teams and the immediate response of local fishing boats. He confirmed that three people died in the incident while nearly 150 others were rescued safely. The full extent of injuries, if any, has not yet been disclosed, and some passengers may still be unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue.
Dani Repi, the head of the rapid response team from the Provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, explained that the vessel caught fire while sailing close to Manado. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Multiple rescue ships, boats, and supporting vessels have been deployed to aid the search efforts. Authorities are working tirelessly to locate the remaining passengers, with the priority being the safety of all survivors.
Local fishing communities played a crucial role in the rescue, arriving quickly at the scene and helping pull passengers from the burning vessel before the situation escalated further. Their bravery and swift action were vital in reducing the loss of life during the initial moments of the fire.
Indonesian maritime officials are expected to launch a full investigation into the incident, including looking into safety standards, possible negligence, and the ship’s maintenance records. Maritime accidents are not uncommon in the archipelago, where overloaded vessels and inadequate safety enforcement remain longstanding concerns.
As families await updates on their loved ones, the nation mourns the tragic loss of lives in yet another reminder of the dangers that still exist on regional sea routes.
