Overcrowded ferry with 280 people catches fire at sea off Indonesia

A packed ferry carrying more than 280 passengers has become a floating inferno off the coast of Indonesia.

Flames engulfed the KM Barcelona VA vessel traveling towards the city of Manado within minutes, forcing dozens of people to jump into the sea.

Footage shows passengers – most wearing life-jackets, but some without – hurling themselves into the water to save their lives.

Filmed by a woman, who had swum about 10 to 15 meters away from the inferno, it reveals the desperation of those on board.

Screams and cries for help can be heard in the background as the fire is seen ripping through the entire vessel and thick, black smoke billows into the sky.

Dozens of passengers are shown to be in the water, trying to gain as much distance as possible between the fire and themselves.

Several passing fishing boats from the nearby Talise Island rescued some of the survivors from the water.

Abdul Rahman, who recorded a video during the chaos, said: ‘Almost everyone panicked, the smoke was thick from the back of the boat, then the fishermen started to transport children to their boats first.’

The cause of the fire remains unknown so far (Picture: Viral Press)

IDN Times reported that one person has died in the incident, but did not specify if they drowned or were killed in the inferno.

Three vessels have been dispatched to the scene, the Manado Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) confirmed.

‘There are KM Barcelona III, KM Venecian, and Km Cantika Lestari 9F,’ an officer said.

Rescue operations are ongoing as emergency teams race against time to account for all passengers.

The ferry was en route from the Talaud Islands to Manado when it caught fire off the coast of North Sulawesi earlier today at around 1:30 pm local time.

The cause of the fire remains unknown so far.