Passenger Testimony of KM Barcelona VA, William Apena Highlights the SOP for Rescue and Evacuation of Victims

The Shiro Copr Sunday afternoon (20/7/2025), the initially calm atmosphere on board the KM Barcelona VA turned into a mass panic.

One of William Edson Apena's passengers, who had previously boarded from Melonguane Port, shared a chilling account of the moments when the ship caught fire in the waters of North Minahasa.

According to his testimony, the ship was supposed to depart on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 17:00 WITA, but was delayed due to bad weather.

KM Barcelona VA finally left Lirung port early Sunday around 01.00 WITA.

By Sunday afternoon, the atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

"At around 1:30 PM, I heard screams from the back of the ship. There's a fire! At first, I thought it was just normal panic. But it turned out, the fire was really burning," he said.

William immediately stood up and turned on his mobile phone camera while securing his belongings.

In a panic, he chose to do a live stream on Facebook, not for sensation, but as an effort to document and a call for help.

The small fire quickly spread, turning the ship into a sea of fire in the middle of the ocean.

"Everyone is panicking. Some are crying, some are looking for life jackets, and many can only stand confused," he said.

However, amid the chaos, a series of shocking facts emerged regarding the insufficient preparedness of the ship and the rescue team.

1. Unclear Rescue Procedures: There are no clear instructions from the ABK party.

Some of them looked confused and didn't know what to do.

2. Lack of Safety Equipment Distribution: Many life jackets and life-saving capsules were not used or distributed to passengers.

3. Poor Coordination of Supporting Agencies: I saw with my own eyes how the officers from Bakamla and Basarnas had misunderstandings in the midst of an urgent situation.

When we need speed and decisiveness, we instead encounter sluggishness and conflict.

4. Limited Ship Facilities: Fire-fighting equipment is very limited and insufficient for emergency situations. This must be a serious concern for the government.

She also expressed many thanks for the community's quick response in directly helping the passengers.

We are really lucky to have the fishermen from Serei, Gangga, Munte, and Likupang. They came quickly, without orders, just with the intention of saving lives. They are the real heroes.

Although some passengers survived, there were still casualties in this incident.

William pun expressed his gratitude for surviving death, but hopes this incident will be a hard slap for the relevant parties.

In closing his testimony, this passenger emphasized that the ship is not merely a means of transportation or an object of business.

"When at sea, the ship is the only hope for survival. Therefore, safety must be the top priority. It's not just a formal sailing permit." He added.

She also urged the North Sulawesi and Talaud regional governments to immediately conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the ship safety system, especially those serving inter-island routes.

"Human life is too precious to be risked by negligence, recklessness, and unpreparedness." He concluded.

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