North Sulawesi, Indonesia – A passenger ferry en route from the Talaud Islands to the North Sulawesi capital of Manado caught fire on Sunday, July 20, resulting in the tragic deaths of three people, including a pregnant woman. The vessel, identified as KM Barcelona 5 (also referred to as KM Barcelona VA), was carrying far more passengers than officially recorded in its manifest, prompting serious concerns about oversight and maritime safety in Indonesia.
The fire broke out around midday while the ferry was traveling through the waters near Talise Island. According to the Indonesian authorities, the blaze began in the rear section of the vessel and took about an hour to fully extinguish. Despite the swift and collaborative rescue efforts involving the Indonesian Navy, Coast Guard, water police, and even local fishermen, the fire claimed three lives. Two additional victims, including a two-month-old baby initially presumed dead, were later revived at a local hospital.
The passenger manifest had recorded only 295 people on board, including 280 passengers and 15 crew members. However, the final count of those rescued reached a staggering 568, raising serious concerns about inadequate monitoring and inaccurate documentation on passenger ferries.
The majority of the rescued passengers were transported to safety on nearby islands such as Ganga and to the port of Likupang. Several were taken to medical facilities in Manado for treatment of injuries sustained during the incident. Eyewitness accounts revealed the chaos during evacuation, with many passengers forced to jump into the sea as smoke and flames spread rapidly.
This incident is the latest in a series of maritime disasters in Indonesia. Earlier this month, a ferry capsized off Bali, resulting in multiple fatalities and dozens missing. Indonesia, a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, heavily relies on ferries for transportation, but enforcement of maritime safety regulations remains lax, with vessel overloading and poor emergency preparedness being recurrent issues.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the fire on KM Barcelona 5 and are examining the discrepancies in the passenger manifest. Maritime officials are under pressure to implement stricter safety measures and improve oversight to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The government has also pledged to reevaluate ferry inspection protocols and enforce mandatory passenger registration to ensure accountability during emergencies. The incident has sparked nationwide debates on maritime safety and the need for reform in Indonesia’s domestic transport systems.