AT least five people have died and more than 280 others were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the coast near Sulawesi, Indonesia.
AFP reported the incident occurred while the ferry was en route to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, according to Indonesia's maritime safety agency.
In a statement, the agency said the fire is believed to have started at the rear of the vessel, prompting passengers to jump into the sea to escape the flames.
It added, “The identities of two of the five victims have not yet been confirmed, and the process of identifying the bodies is ongoing.”
Local fishermen assisted in the rescue, helping to transport survivors to a nearby island.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, and the exact number of passengers on board has yet to be verified. - July 20, 2025
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