Ferry with 280 Aboard Bursts into Flames off Indonesia, Passengers Leap into Sea

Shocking videos have emerged on social media showing the dramatic moments a passenger ferry, KM Barcelona V, burst into flames off the coast of Indonesia, prompting hundreds of panicked passengers to leap into the sea.

One widely circulated video was captured by passenger Abdul Rahmad Agu, who had just escaped the burning vessel. In the clip, Abdul can be seen clutching a child tightly while calling for help, his voice filled with urgency. Behind him, flames engulfed the ferry as thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

He could be heard shouting that many others were still trapped onboard, while trying to reassure fellow passengers floating in the water around him.

Passenger ship on fire in the middle of the sea (Photo: The Sun).

According to The Sun, the fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time on July 20 as the ship was en route from the Talaud Islands to Manado City. The vessel reportedly encountered the accident while nearing Talise Island.

Some passengers filmed the wreckage a distance away as they recounted the horrifying events (Daily Mail)

The ferry was carrying 280 passengers, as confirmed by CNA. Video footage from the scene shows thick smoke pouring from the hull as terrified passengers jumped overboard. Most were wearing life jackets. Crew members were seen assisting with the evacuation, helping passengers don life jackets and directing them away from danger despite the chaos and overcrowded conditions.

Local fishermen and nearby residents rushed to the scene in boats to aid in the rescue effort. The Manado Search and Rescue Agency deployed three rescue ships—KM Barcelona III, KM Venecian, and KM Cantika Lestari 9F—to the location. A rescue coordination center has also been established at Likupang Port, near the site of the incident.

Striking footage shows the vessel entirely engulfed with bright orange flames as plumes of grey smoke tower above the wreckage (Daily Mail)

Photos taken after the fire was extinguished show the vessel’s frame completely charred, with its once blue-and-white paint stripped away by the flames. Only the skeletal remains of the ship’s metal structure were left visible.

Authorities have not yet released details on casualties or injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“We are still counting the passengers and prioritizing the rescue mission,” said George Leo Mercy Randang, Director of the Manado Search and Rescue Office. “We will continue to update information. Hopefully, all passengers are safe.”

The incident comes just one day after a separate maritime accident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, where a tourist boat carrying 46 passengers and 3 crew members capsized due to a storm.