3 People Killed, Hundreds Rescued As Indonesian Ship Catches Fire At Sea

Source: Africa Publicity

At least three people have been confirmed dead by authorities in Indonesia after a passenger ship caught fire at sea.

Some 560 people aboard the ship were rescued, authorities said on Monday.

Manado navy base chief First Admiral Franky Pasuna Sihombing, was reported by local media outlets in Indonesia as saying the KM Barcelona 5 caught fire around midday Sunday while heading to Manado on its regular half-day journey from Melonguane port.

A coast guard vessel, six rescue ships and several inflatable boats were deployed in the rescue operation, according to Sihombing.

Many survivors were pulled from the sea and taken to nearby islands. Local fishermen also rescued passengers found drifting in life jackets.

Images posted to social media showed passengers jumping into the sea as black smoke and flames engulfed the ferry.

The search and rescue operation continued, although there were no immediate reports of people still missing.

Authorities had previously said that five people had died, but the National Search and Rescue Agency revised this figure on Monday.

Two passengers who were initially reported as dead were saved in hospital, including a 2-month-old baby.

Officials said the fire that began in the ferry’s stern was extinguished within an hour.

While the ferry’s manifest originally registered only 280 passengers and 15 crew members, the national rescue agency confirmed 568 survivors. It is common for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry in Indonesia to differ from the manifest.

The ferry has a capacity of 600 people.