Passengers leapt from a burning ferry when flames spread through the vessel in Indonesia this afternoon.

The KM. Barcelona V.A. - named after the football team - was carrying hundreds of locals from Talaud Islands Regency to Manado Port in North Sulawesi when the blaze erupted.

Footage from onboard the boat shows flames spreading through the ship. Desperate passengers in orange life jackets were seen jumping into the ocean.

Several passing fishing boats from the nearby Talise Island plucked survivors from the water as smoke rose from the burning ship.

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 coast guard was alerted and rescue teams were at the scene helping those who were in the sea.

The number of fatalities or the cause of the fire is not yet known. At least one person is feared to have died, according to reports from the scene.

Ship tracking records show that the KM. Barcelona V.A., which bears a similar badge to the Spanish football side, is registered in Indonesia.