MANADO, Indonesia. Rescuers said on Monday that 575 people have been saved from a ferry that caught fire off North Sulawesi province in Indonesia, significantly more than earlier reported. At least three people died, while two others remain missing.
The KM Barcelona V-A was en route from Melonguane to Manado on Sunday when the fire broke out around midday. Initial reports cited five dead and 280 rescued, based on the ferry’s manifest. However, authorities later revised the figures, stating that more people were on board than recorded and that the death toll had been updated to three.
Indonesian Navy First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing said it is common for actual passenger numbers to differ from official records, often due to overcrowding. These discrepancies complicate search and rescue operations.
The rescue involved a coast guard ship, six rescue vessels, several inflatable boats, and local fishermen. Many passengers were pulled from the sea, including a two-month-old baby who had inhaled seawater and is now in stable condition at a hospital.
The KM Barcelona V-A had a listed capacity of 600 passengers. According to the manifest, it carried only 280 passengers and 15 crew, but rescue teams believe the ferry was overcrowded.
Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. However, poor enforcement of safety regulations has led to frequent maritime accidents.
On July 14, a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized during a storm, though all were rescued. Earlier this month, a ferry near Bali sank, killing at least 19 people and leaving 16 missing. That incident prompted a two-week search involving over 600 personnel, multiple navy ships, boats, divers, and a helicopter.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
