- One person was killed and 172 others evacuated after a passenger ferry caught fire in waters off Lombok island, Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province, on Wednesday morning, local authorities said.
- The ferry, the KM Putri Yasmin, was sailing from Bali to Lombok when the fire broke out at 4:39 a.m. in the Lombok Strait.
- More than 200 personnel were deployed to support the evacuation operation, while the search for possible missing passengers continued.
- By Wednesday afternoon, one Indonesian had been confirmed dead and 172 people had been evacuated to ports in Bali and Lombok.
- The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the number of people on board is still being verified.
- The incident occurred less than a month after another ferry, KM Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire off Madura island, which was also carrying more people than its manifest showed.
- Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries as a key mode of transportation, with sea routes more affordable and readily available than air travel.
- However, safety standards are not always rigorously enforced, resulting in a relatively high rate of accidents.
One person was confirmed dead and 172 others were rescued after the KM Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire in the Lombok Strait at 4:39 a.m. on Wednesday. The ferry was en route from Bali to Lombok when the blaze erupted, prompting a swift evacuation operation led by local authorities.23
Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the local rescue agency, reported that the survivors included one Australian and the rest were Indonesian nationals. They were evacuated to ports in Bali and Lombok using multiple vessels, with over 200 personnel deployed to assist in the operation.8
The incident raised concerns as the ferry's manifest indicated only 114 passengers and 17 crew members, suggesting potential overcrowding. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities are continuing their search for any missing passengers. This incident follows a similar event less than a month ago when another ferry caught fire off Madura island, also involving discrepancies in passenger numbers.
As the situation develops, local officials are working to verify the total number of individuals on board and ensure the safety of all survivors.
“The ferry, Putri Yasmin, was sailing from Bali to Lombok when the fire broke out in the Lombok Strait at 4:39 a.m. Wednesday. More than 200 personnel were deployed, and the manifest listed 114 passengers and 17 crew, though the actual number on board is still being verified.”
