- One Indonesian was confirmed dead after the KM Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire off the coast of Bali, with 172 people evacuated to ports in Bali and Lombok.
- The KM Putri Yasmin ferry left Padangbai port in Bali for Lembar port in Lombok before it caught fire in the Lombok Strait at 4:39 a.m. on Wednesday.
- Rescue operations involved a navy vessel, ferries, and search-and-rescue teams, with passengers evacuated to at least three vessels.
- Authorities are verifying the total number of people who had been aboard the ferry, which had a manifest showing only 114 passengers and 17 crew.
- Marine accidents occur regularly in Indonesia, an archipelago made up of more than 17,000 islands where boats play a major role in connecting communities.
- Lax safety standards and unpredictable weather are among the main factors behind such disasters.
- The incident comes days after another ferry fire off Java island killed five people.
One person died and 172 were rescued after the KM Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire off Bali while en route to Lombok. The incident occurred at 4:39 a.m. on Wednesday, prompting a significant rescue operation involving over 200 personnel and multiple vessels.34
Muhamad Hariyadi, head of the local search and rescue agency, confirmed that all passengers had been evacuated. He stated, "We have approached the ship and confirmed that all passengers are no longer on board." The ferry was carrying at least 114 passengers and 17 crew members, but authorities are still verifying the total number aboard.78
The KM Putri Yasmin ferry left Padangbai port in Bali and was traveling to Lembar port in Lombok when the fire broke out. Rescuers managed to evacuate passengers to at least three vessels, including a navy ship. Among the survivors, one was Australian, while the rest were Indonesian.
This incident follows another ferry fire off Java island that resulted in five fatalities just days prior. Marine accidents are common in Indonesia, attributed to lax safety standards and unpredictable weather conditions. The ferry was reportedly carrying more people than its manifest indicated, raising concerns about safety regulations in the region.910
“The ferry KM Putri Yasmin was carrying more passengers than its manifest showed, which listed only 114 passengers and 17 crew. The incident follows another ferry fire off Madura island that killed five people less than a month earlier.”
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