The captain of the Indonesian ferry Barcelona V has been named a suspect following a fire that occurred last weekend off Talisei Island. The blaze prompted passengers and crew to abandon ship, with reports indicating irregularities in the passenger manifest and potential violations of emergency protocols during the evacuation.
Local authorities are investigating the captain, identified only as "IB," while also examining the roles of other crew members. Senior Commissioner Eko Wimpiyanto stated that evidence collection is ongoing to ensure the case is swiftly processed in court. Eyewitness accounts reveal that passengers attempted to evacuate without using liferafts, leading to chaos and reports of insufficient lifejackets on board.
Currently, two individuals are still missing, and search efforts continue. Discrepancies in passenger counts have raised concerns, as the official manifest listed only 280 people, whereas rescue operations accounted for 575 individuals. The issue of unregistered passengers has been a recurring problem in Southeast Asian ferry incidents.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has called for a thorough investigation into the Barcelona V‘s manifest, emphasizing the need for improved maritime safety across all levels of government and regulatory bodies.
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