BUTUAN CITY – A fire broke out aboard the KM Barcelona VA, a passenger ferry operated by PT Surya Pacific Indonesia, on July 20, 2025, while en route from Talaud to Manado with 280 passengers on board.
The incident occurred near Pulau Talise in North Sulawesi, with initial reports indicating the blaze began in room 33, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Three fatalities have been confirmed, all patients being transported for medical care, while a three-month-old infant was miraculously rescued by locals on Pulau Gangga; the child’s parents are still missing. Rescue operations involved eight vessels, including search and rescue teams and Indonesian naval ships, with survivors evacuated to nearby islands.
The KM Barcelona VA, launched in December 2021, is among the newer vessels in the operator’s fleet, and while the incident has raised public concern, the company reports that other routes remain operational as authorities continue to investigate.
