In this photo made from video released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), smoke billows from passenger ship KM Barcelona after it caught fire in the waters off Talise Island in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP)

A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people caught fire off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Sunday, killing at least five people, including a pregnant woman, according to officials. More than 280 people have been rescued so far, while evacuation efforts are continuing.

The KM Barcelona 5 was travelling from Talaud, a district in North Sulawesi province, to Manado, the provincial capital, when the fire broke out near Talise, said Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata of the Indonesian Fleet Command.

“We are still focusing on evacuation efforts,” Hendrata told the Associated Press. He added that the cause of the fire was under investigation.

According to the navy, three ships were sent for the rescue, while local fishermen also helped bring survivors to nearby islands. Many survivors were found floating in the sea with life jackets.

So far, 284 passengers and crew have been evacuated, and five bodies recovered. Officials have not released an exact count of how many people were on board.

Photos and videos shared by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed passengers jumping into the sea, with flames and smoke rising from the ferry.

Ferries are widely used for transport in Indonesia, a country made up of over 17,000 islands. Accidents are common, and poor safety standards are often blamed.

In a separate incident, residents in the Mentawai Islands rescued people stranded after a speedboat carrying 18 passengers overturned during a storm on July 13. All were reported to be in good health.

Earlier this month, a ferry sank near Bali, leaving at least 19 dead and 16 missing. A two-week search involved more than 1,000 rescue workers, navy ships, boats, a helicopter, and divers.