A man who jumped from a blazing Indonesian ferry while clutching a baby has been captured on a Facebook livestream. Abdul Rahmad Agu broadcast the harrowing scenes as passengers leaped from the KM Barcelona 5, which caught fire off Sulawesi island, killing at least five people.
In the 28-minute video, Agu can be heard pleading for help, stating that many people remain on board and that they are burning at sea. The footage shows orange flames and black smoke billowing from the vessel as terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jump into the water.
The ferry was travelling from Talaud to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when the fire broke out near Talise. Vice-Admiral Denih Hendrata confirmed that three navy ships have been deployed, and 284 passengers and crew have been evacuated so far. Rescuers have recovered five bodies, including that of a pregnant woman.
Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries, but weak safety enforcement often leads to disasters. Earlier this month, a ferry sank near Bali, leaving at least 19 dead and 16 missing. In a separate incident, a boat capsized in Vietnam during a thunderstorm, killing 38 people.
