Inferno off Talise Island: 280 Leap from Indonesian Blazing Ship
Five Dead, Hundreds Rescued in Maritime Horror Near North Sulawesi—Systemic Failures in Ferry Oversight Blamed
Indonesia, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Hell broke loose in the waters off Talise Island, North Sulawesi, as the KM Barcelona VA ferry caught fire mid-voyage on Saturday, July 20.
The vessel, traveling from the remote Talaud Islands to Manado, erupted into flames just before reaching shore—forcing nearly 300 passengers and crew to abandon ship.
Chaos reigned as men, women, and children, many in life jackets, flung themselves into the ocean to escape the firestorm.
Dramatic footage showed thick black smoke pouring into the sky, with passengers clutching infants in the open water. At least five people are confirmed dead, including a pregnant woman.
A small miracle: 284 people were rescued in a rapid, coordinated effort by Indonesia’s navy, coast guard, and local fishermen.
The Rescue Effort
Three vessels—KM Barcelona III, KM Cantika Lestari 9F, and KM Venecian—joined the scramble, pulling survivors from the water with assistance from BASARNAS, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency.
The VIII/Manado Naval Base had urged local fishermen to help evacuate passengers and crew members of the ship, which caught fire near Talise Island while sailing from a port in Talaud Islands District to Manado City on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Central Maritime Zone Command of Bakamla also deployed its vessel KN Gajah Laut to help rescue those on board the ill-fated passenger ship.
Separately, the Manado Search and Rescue Agency confirmed the deployment of 21 personnel aboard its vessel KN Bima.
"The ship reportedly caught fire between 12 noon and 1 p.m. local time," the agency's spokesperson, Nuriadin Gumeleng, said, adding that a pregnant woman died in the mishap and her body had been evacuated.
Eyewitness Accounts and Ongoing Investigation
Witness testimonies say the fire spread rapidly, possibly beginning in the engine room—though officials have yet to confirm the exact cause.
As panic spread, passengers had no time to gather belongings. One man was seen live-streaming his plunge into the ocean, holding his baby close, his face marked by saltwater and terror. S
urvivors floated for hours under the sun, some clinging to debris. Others were rescued by fishermen who arrived well before official vessels. (PW)