Boat Catches Fire in Indonesia, Passengers Jump for Their Lives (Video)
On Sunday, a ferry boat caught fire in Indonesia, forcing hundreds of passengers to launch themselves overboard in hopes of escaping the inferno. The figures are still trickling in, but according to initial reports, five people have died – including a pregnant woman.
The boat, the KM Barcelona V-A, was traveling from Melonguane to Manado in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi Province when the flames erupted. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. And some 280 passengers were on the boat at the time.
Footage from the incident shows the harrowing scenes; see below.
According to a local news outlet, one passenger who jumped from the burning vessel spent an hour bobbing in the ocean before rescue crews arrived. The passenger said:
“I was eating with the family of the Head of the Talaud Criminal Investigation Unit when suddenly flames of smoke entered the ship’s bridge. We immediately jumped into the sea. We are now on Serei Island in North Minahasa with around 50 survivors. Some of the victims were immediately picked up by ambulance.”
Related: Boat Capsizes in Mentawai Islands, 10 People Missing (Video)
This incident comes off the heels of other recent boating accidents in Indonesia. The week before, a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized in the Mentawai Islands, one of surfing’s premier destinations. A frantic search ensued after, with officials reporting:
“The boat carried 18 people; eight of them managed to swim ashore with life vests and reached Sikakap Village. Some of the victims were seen floating on the surface, but the team couldn’t reach them in time, and they eventually disappeared from sight.”
And before that, in June, a boat carrying tourists and locals capsized off Bali when it was struck by a wave. Scenes from that incident showed passengers frantically rushing to exit the vessel, before other boats arrived to assist in the rescue.
Many such cases of boat chaos in Indo of late.
Related: Wave Capsizes Boat in Bali, Tourists Panic to Escape (Video)
Boat Catches Fire in Indonesia, Passengers Jump for Their Lives (Video) first appeared on Surfer on Jul 21, 2025
