Overview

• The ferry caught fire midday July 20 between the Talaud Islands and Manado, forcing roughly 280 people to leap into the water to escape the flames.
• Rescue teams from the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, the navy, Basarnas and local fishermen recovered survivors and continue to search for missing passengers.
• Authorities have confirmed five fatalities and three injuries, with survivors treated for hypothermia and smoke inhalation on nearby islands.
• Investigators are probing the fire’s suspected engine-room origin to determine what triggered the blaze.
• The disaster highlights persistent safety shortfalls in Indonesia’s ferry network, where aging vessels and regulatory gaps have fueled past tragedies.