A devastating ferry blaze has claimed the lives of at least five people, including a pregnant woman, off the coast of Sulawesi island in Indonesia.
The ferry, named KM Barcelona 5, was traveling to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, from Talaud, an island district in the province, when it caught fire in waters near Talise.
Rescue Efforts Underway
More than 280 people were rescued, and rescue efforts are still ongoing.
Three navy ships have been deployed, and local fishermen assisted in the rescue operation, saving some survivors who were wearing life jackets and drifting to nearby islands in the choppy waters.
The rescue team retrieved five bodies, including that of the pregnant woman. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and the exact number of passengers and crew members on board the ferry is still unknown.
Investigation into Cause of Fire
Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata stated that the cause of the fire is being investigated, but the focus remains on evacuation efforts for now.
The incident has raised concerns about safety enforcement in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries are a common method of travel.
Disasters occur regularly in the country, and weak safety enforcement is often blamed.
In a separate incident, a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized during a storm on July 14, leaving several people stranded on the Mentawai Islands. Fortunately, all were in good condition.
A ferry sank near Indonesia’s resort island of Bali early this month, resulting in at least 19 deaths and 16 people missing.
The two-week search operation involved over 1,000 rescuers, three navy ships, 15 boats, a helicopter, and divers.