A ferry travelling from Bali to Lombok caught fire in the Lombok Strait early Wednesday, triggering a major rescue operation by Indonesian authorities. One person has died, while 172 people were rescued from the burning vessel.
The ferry, KM Putri Yasmin, had departed from Padangbai port in Bali and was heading towards Lembar port in Lombok when the incident occurred. According to local rescue officials, the fire broke out at around 4:39 a.m. local time.
Ferry Catches Fire in Lombok Strait
The fire occurred while the vessel was travelling through the waters between Bali and Lombok.
Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the local rescue agency, said rescue teams deployed several boats to evacuate people from the ferry and coordinate with other vessels in the surrounding area.
More than 200 personnel were involved in the rescue operation.
By Wednesday afternoon, authorities had confirmed the death of one Indonesian passenger. The rescued group included one Australian passenger, while the remaining survivors were Indonesian.
The exact cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
172 People Rescued
Indonesian authorities successfully evacuated 172 people from the ferry and took survivors to ports in Bali and Lombok.
The rescue operation involved multiple boats and personnel working around the affected vessel. Authorities were also continuing to check whether anyone else could have been missing.
The incident has attracted particular attention because the number of people rescued was significantly higher than the number recorded on the ferry's official manifest.
Why Was the Passenger Count Different?
An official at Padangbai port, Heri Wiyanto, told local broadcaster Kompas TV that the ferry's manifest listed 114 passengers and 17 crew members.
That adds up to only 131 people.
However, authorities reported rescuing 172 people from the ferry.
The difference has raised questions about whether the vessel was carrying more people than were officially registered. At this stage, however, authorities had not established whether overcrowding contributed to the fire.
A Similar Ferry Fire Happened Last Month
The KM Putri Yasmin incident comes less than a month after another ferry fire in Indonesia.
The KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire off Madura island and five people were killed. That vessel was also reported to have been carrying more people than were listed on its manifest.
The two incidents have once again drawn attention to ferry safety in Indonesia.
Indonesia Relies Heavily on Ferries
Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, making ferry services an important part of the country's transport network.
For many people, sea travel is more affordable and accessible than flying between islands. However, safety standards are not always consistently enforced, contributing to a relatively high number of maritime accidents.
The latest fire involving KM Putri Yasmin has therefore raised fresh questions about passenger registration and safety standards on Indonesian ferries.
For now, authorities are continuing to assess the incident and search for any other passengers who may still be unaccounted for.
