At least five people have died and nearly 300 were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the coast of Sulawesi island in Indonesia on Sunday.
The KM III Barcelona was engulfed in flames, prompting passengers to leap into the sea wearing lifejackets in a desperate bid to escape the burning vessel.
Authorities confirmed that all 284 passengers and crew were successfully evacuated from the ship. The Indonesian Navy, the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), and local search and rescue teams coordinated a large-scale joint operation to bring people to safety.
Dramatic footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the ferry as panicked passengers abandoned ship.
The fire has since been extinguished, but the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Ferry accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, where lax safety standards and overcrowding can lead to tragic incidents.
🇮🇩Indonesia, Sulawesi – A crowded ferry carrying nearly 300 people catches fire as panicked passengers jump into the sea to escape the inferno.
By Lewis Henderson
Published on 07/20/2025A huge blaze broke out on a crowded ferry as passengers jumped overboard to escape the… pic.twitter.com/GvvHmqnnpw
— Ships Of Legend (@ShipsOfLegend) July 20, 2025
