575 Rescued After Indonesian Ferry Fire; 3 Dead, 2 Still Missing

Investigation Ongoing as Ferry Manifest Discrepancy Raises Safety Concerns

Tone & Political Bias: Center-Leaning

Why: The article focuses on facts, rescue operations, and safety regulations without favoring any political angle or offering emotional or ideological interpretation.

What Happened

An Indonesian passenger ferry, KM Barcelona V-A, caught fire midday Sunday during its routine journey between Melonguane and Manado in North Sulawesi province. By Monday, 575 people had been rescued, though three people were confirmed dead, and two others remained missing, according to the Manado Search and Rescue Agency.

The ferry fire is the latest in a series of maritime accidents in Indonesia, raising ongoing concerns over passenger manifest discrepancies and safety enforcement.

Rescue Efforts and Response

First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing, chief of the Manado navy base, confirmed that a multi-agency operation was launched immediately. The rescue included a coast guard ship, six rescue vessels, and several inflatable boats. Local fishermen also helped save passengers who were drifting in life jackets in rough sea conditions.

Rescuers pulled many survivors from the sea and brought them to nearby islands. Among the rescued was a 2-month-old baby with water in its lungs, who was hospitalized and reported to be in stable condition.

Photos and videos shared widely on social media showed passengers jumping off the burning vessel into the sea, as the ferry was engulfed in flames and thick black smoke.

Deaths and Missing Persons

Authorities confirmed three fatalities, including a pregnant woman. Two more passengers remain unaccounted for. The cause of the fire, which reportedly started in the stern and was extinguished within an hour, is still under investigation.

Discrepancy in Ferry Manifest

While the ferry’s official manifest listed only 280 passengers and 15 crew members, authorities later found that 575 people had actually been rescued. The ferry’s maximum capacity is 600. This significant gap between registered and actual passengers is a known issue in Indonesia’s maritime sector and complicates search and rescue efforts.

First Adm. Sihombing stated that such discrepancies often contribute to maritime accidents in the region. Overcrowding, underreporting, and weak regulation are recurring problems.

Broader Context of Maritime Safety in Indonesia

Indonesia, an archipelago with over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. However, safety enforcement is often lacking. Ferry and boat disasters are common.

Just last week, a speedboat with 18 people capsized during a storm. All passengers were rescued by the next day. Earlier in July, another ferry sank near Bali, killing at least 19 people and leaving 16 others missing.

That incident led to a two-week search operation involving over 600 rescuers, navy ships, boats, divers, and helicopters. These recurring accidents highlight persistent challenges in monitoring passenger loads and enforcing maritime safety standards.

Investigation and Safety Accountability

Authorities have yet to determine what caused the fire aboard KM Barcelona V-A. Investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, public concern is growing over how such a large discrepancy in passenger numbers could occur.

Safety enforcement bodies are under pressure to review procedures for verifying passenger manifests and ensure adherence to ferry capacity limits. The recurrence of such incidents may push for tighter regulations and more transparent passenger reporting systems.

Rescue teams continue to search for the two missing individuals. Naval and civilian resources remain on alert as part of an extended response and recovery mission.