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Indonesian ferry passengers jump from vessel amid deadly fire in North Sulawesi

A passenger ferry fire in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province has killed three people, with video showing passengers jumping into the ocean to escape the burning ship.

Footage taken on Sunday afternoon shows a pillar of smoke billowing from the ship, in waters north of Manado, as terrified people try to escape the enormous blaze.

Dozens of people can be seen floating in the ocean, watching the KM Barcelona 5 ferry as it burns.

In a statement, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, BASARNAS, said teams were still working at the scene.

“The SAR team is currently combing the waters around the fire site to ensure no passengers are left behind or adrift at sea,” it said.

“In addition to the BASARNAS team, other potential SAR elements, including the Indonesian Navy, the Water Police (Polairud), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and local fishermen, are also assisting in the rescue process.”

It is understood local fishermen raced out by boat to help rescue those who evacuated the burning ferry.

Local authorities previously said five people had died, but the National Search and Rescue Agency revised it to three early on Monday after two passengers initially reported as dead were saved in a hospital, including a two-month-old baby whose lungs were filled with seawater.

More than 280 people were on board when it caught fire, with the cause not yet known.

The ferry was travelling to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi.

On social media, one man live streamed the enormous ferry fire while he was carrying a small child in his other hand.

As an archipelago country, thousands of passenger ferries move people around Indonesia from island to island daily, with disasters occurring regularly.

On July 15 in West Sumatra, 11 people who were missing at sea following a boat capsize were found alive after they swam six hours to the nearest island.

A ferry near Bali sank earlier this month, killing at least 18 people.

ABC/AP