(Video) Carrying over 280 people from the Talaud Islands to Manado City: A fire broke out aboard
A fire broke out aboard the KM Barcelona VA ferry off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
A fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time today on the KM Barcelona VA ferry off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The vessel, carrying over 280 people from the Talaud Islands to Manado City, forced passengers to leap into the sea. No confirmed casualties yet.
He said that three navy ships had been deployed, and 284 passengers and crew members had been evacuated so far.
The rescue operation included assistance from local fishermen, who saved some survivors wearing life jackets as they were drifting to nearby islands in the choppy waters.
Rescuers retrieved five bodies, including a pregnant woman.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, and no exact figures of passengers and crew members onboard the ferry.
“We are still focusing on evacuation efforts,” Hendrata said, adding that the cause of the fire was being investigated.
Photos and videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea. Orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel.
