A ferry with passengers caught fire off the coast of Indonesia, and rescue teams announced on Monday that over 560 people have been saved and three have died.
KM Barcelona 5 caught fire on Sunday, around noon, while heading to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, according to Rear Admiral Franky Pasuna Sihombing, the head of the naval base in Manado, as reported by AP.
A coast guard ship, six rescue vessels, and several inflatable boats were mobilized in the rescue operation, Sihombing stated. Crews pulled many people out of the sea and took them to nearby islands, while local fishermen also rescued some survivors wearing life jackets as they floated in rough waters.
Photos and videos shared on social media showed terrified passengers, most wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning ship.
The search and rescue operation continues. Authorities had previously stated that five people died, but the National Search and Rescue Agency revised the number to three after two passengers initially declared dead were rescued, including a two-month-old baby.
The fire that broke out in the ferry's stern was extinguished within an hour, Sihombing said. The ferry's passenger list initially included only 280 passengers and 15 crew members, but the national rescue agency confirmed that 568 survivors have been rescued and three bodies recovered, including that of a pregnant woman.
In Indonesia, it is common for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry to differ from the one recorded on the passenger list. This discrepancy can contribute to accidents and complicate search and rescue efforts, Sihombing said.
The ferry's capacity is 600 people.