What we know about the Indonesian ferry fire

21 Jul 2025 • 9:18 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Over 560 people were rescued, and three died after the KM Barcelona 5 passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Indonesia's North Sulawesi province on Sunday.
  • The fire, which started in the stern, was extinguished within an hour, with rescue efforts involving coast guard ships, rescue vessels, and local fishermen.
  • Photos and videos showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel.
  • Authorities revised the death toll from five to three, confirming that a pregnant woman was among the deceased, while a two-month-old baby initially reported dead was saved.
  • The incident highlighted common discrepancies in Indonesian ferry manifests, as 568 survivors were rescued despite the manifest listing only 280 passengers.

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