Compelling social media footage showed passengers leaping into ocean waters on Sunday after their ferry erupted in flames off Indonesia's North Sulawesi province, with CNA reporting the dramatic incident occurred near Talise island as emergency teams mobilized for mass evacuations.
Video shows people jumping into the sea as fire engulfs the KM Barcelona VA near Talise Island, Indonesia. Rescue teams have begun evacuating the burning ship. pic.twitter.com/gl2zZElWih
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Jerry Harmonsina, secretary of the North Sulawesi Regional Disaster Management Agency, confirmed to Indonesian outlet Detik that the blaze originated in waters surrounding Talise island, according to CNA.
Officials from Detik told CNA that casualty numbers remained unconfirmed, although Jerry indicated that the vessel fire began during the afternoon hours of Sunday. Indonesian media sources reported to CNA that the burning ferry, identified as KM Barcelona 5, had been transporting 280 passengers and was scheduled to arrive at Manado Port.
Jerry announced to Detik that search and rescue teams had been dispatched to the fire location for evacuation operations, while area fishing vessels were assisting in the rescue mission, CNA reported. "The evacuation is currently underway, involving various units from the Navy, the National Search and Rescue Agency, the Coast Guard (as well as) assistance from local fishermen in the surrounding area," Jerry stated, according to CNA.
Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, featured widespread distribution of the ferry fire footage, with some clips reportedly filmed by passengers who had abandoned the vessel for safety, CNA reported. Dense black smoke clouds formed the backdrop as passengers remained afloat in surrounding waters, while additional TikTok content posted by user Soalunsrat captured vessel occupants rapidly securing life vests as others displayed panic behaviors and attempted mobile phone communications, according to CNA.
