Ferry Fire in Indonesia: Harrowing Escapes as⁣ 280 Passengers Leap to Safety

A terrifying ordeal⁢ unfolded on a ferry in Indonesia when a fire broke out, forcing‍ nearly‍ 300 passengers to jump ⁢into the sea ‍to escape the⁤ flames.

A Desperate Leap for Survival

The incident, which occurred on a ferry carrying 280 passengers, saw individuals making the harrowing decision to abandon⁢ the vessel as smoke and flames⁢ engulfed parts of it. Footage shared by Indonesian outlet⁢ KOMPASTV shows local fishing boats bravely navigating the waters to⁣ rescue passengers who had plunged‍ into the sea.

Witness Accounts of the Inferno

One passenger, Alwina Inang, recounted the terrifying ⁢moments to local news⁢ outlet ⁤Detik. She described being in the middle of⁣ a meal with the family of the Head of the Talaud Criminal Investigation Unit when the fire suddenly⁤ erupted.

“Flames of ⁣smoke entered the ship’s ⁤bridge,” Alwina, who is married to the Head of Traffic Police ‍of the Talaud Islands Police, Christian M, ⁣told Detik. “We promptly jumped into the sea.”

Alwina shared that she ⁣spent approximately an hour in the water before being rescued, highlighting the desperate⁣ circumstances faced by those on board.

The exact number of casualties from this incident has not yet been confirmed. PEOPLE has reached ‍out ⁢to ⁤the Coast Guard⁤ and the national police for further ‍comment.

Read the original ⁢article‍ on People.