Indonesian ferry packed with 300 bursts into flames, passengers forced to jump into sea

Panicked passengers took over an Indonesian ferry which caught fire in the middle of the sea ahead of Southeast Sulawesi on Sunday. The ship, which was said to have been having a passenger capacity of close to 300, was on its way to Kendari, Makassar when flames broke out forcing a cargo of passengers to evacuate the ship.

The local authorities reported that 18 people at least have been injured including several who were burned and inhaled smoke due to the mayhem which ensued after the fire outbreak. There data on any fatalities yet are not reported.

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Footage posted online of social media users demonstrated shocked passengers jumping into the water as heavy black smoke poured out of the ship. On other video clips, others were seen rushing to put on life jackets and others desperately calling people on phones.

????Ferry bursts into flames off the coast of Indonesia forcing passengers to jump into the sea

Rescue ships and nearby boats came to the aid of those in the water near Talise Island, but the number of casualties is still unknown???????? pic.twitter.com/BMbihTM2YU

— Abrar Mirza (@AbrarMirza52) July 20, 2025

“According to initial information, the fire is located off Talise Island,” said Jerry Harmonsina, the secretary of North Sulawesi regional disaster management agency in an interview to local media outlet Detik. The fire outbreak occurred on Sunday afternoon.

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Other rescue operations are in place. Harmonsina clarified that the Navy teams, and that of the national Search and Rescue Agency, Coast Guard and even locals fishermen are helping to evacuate passengers off the burning ship.

BREAKING: A ferry carrying 280 people erupts in flames off the coast of Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/vQXsUAFExX

— Robbie Harvey (@therobbieharvey) July 20, 2025

The reason why the fire broke out is not exactly known. The number of passengers rescued is still not clear with the government of the day confirming reports.

Indonesia is an archipelago consists of over 17,000 islands, it often resorts to using ferries to transport between islands where safety is usually compromised even after repeated warnings.

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