On July 20, 2025, a passenger ferry named KM Barcelona 5 caught fire near Talise Island in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The vessel was carrying around 280 passengers traveling from the Talaud Islands to the city of Manado. Around midday, a fire broke out onboard, rapidly engulfing the ferry in flames.
Videos widely circulated on social media and by news outlets showed panicked passengers jumping into the ocean in life jackets to escape the spreading blaze. Thick black smoke billowed from the ship as rescue teams nearby mobilized to assist.
Indonesian authorities confirmed that at least five people died in the incident, including a pregnant woman. Many passengers were rescued and taken to safety, but several were reported injured, and initial reports indicated that some passengers were unaccounted for immediately following the fire.
Rescue operations involved nearby vessels responding quickly to evacuate passengers from the burning ferry and pull survivors from the water. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and Indonesian investigators began examining the incident to determine what triggered the blaze.
The KM Barcelona 5 fire underscored ongoing concerns about safety standards on passenger ferries in the Indonesian archipelago, where many rely on these vessels for inter-island travel. Authorities pledged to improve fire safety measures and emergency response procedures following the tragedy.
In summary, the passenger ferry KM Barcelona 5 did catch fire on July 20, 2025 near Talise Island, resulting in casualties, dramatic evacuation scenes with passengers jumping into the sea, and a swift rescue response. The incident is confirmed and documented by official reports and footage from the scene.
Aljazeera
