Overview
- The KM Barcelona 5 caught fire at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday off Talise Island, forcing terrified passengers in life jackets to leap into choppy seas.
- Rescuers recovered 568 survivors from the water, far exceeding the vessel’s manifest of 280 passengers and 15 crew members.
- Search teams have recovered three bodies, including a pregnant woman, and a small number of passengers remain unaccounted for.
- The operation involved three navy ships, coast guard vessels, BASARNAS teams and local fishermen working to evacuate and transfer survivors to nearby islands.
- Authorities have launched an investigation into the fire’s origin and are reviewing safety protocols, maintenance records and passenger tracking on Indonesia’s ferry network.