On Wednesday, Aug. 12, rescuers evacuated 211 passengers after a ferry caught fire in rough seas near the Indonesian island of Bali, according to authorities. The body of one passenger, identified as a 19-year-old Indonesian woman, was also recovered from the fiery vessel.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations in the Lombok Strait
The fire broke out at around 4:15 a.m. while the KMP Putri Yasmin was traveling from Bali to the neighboring island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara province, according to AP News. Almost 30 minutes later, an emergency report went out to the Search and Rescue Office in Mataram, which immediately deployed personnel and rescue vessels.
Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, formally announced that teams had approached the ship and confirmed that all passengers were no longer on board. Hariyadi noted that the rescue effort was supported by Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats, rescue vessels, and a helicopter for aerial surveys. Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed turbulent waters with waves as high as 4 meters (13 feet), which compounded the difficulty of the operation as passengers wearing life jackets gathered onto inflatable rafts.
According to CBS News, two Australian tourists were among those pulled from the ferry. CTV News reported that seven foreign tourists were evacuated in total. Syamsurizal, head of the Lembar Port Authority, stated that at least two injured passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital, while survivors told authorities the blaze appeared to have started in a cargo truck before quickly spreading.
Did You Know? The KMP Putri Yasmin was a 62-metre (203-foot) ferry built in Japan in 1992, capable of carrying up to 220 passengers and 55 vehicles on its regular route between Bali and Lombok, according to CTV News.
Manifest Discrepancies and Official Investigations
Authorities noted a significant discrepancy between the ship’s manifest and the actual number of people onboard. Initial reports claimed the ferry had 131 people onboard, including 17 crew members, but rescuers soon found that many more individuals were in need of aid. While such manifest mismatches are common in Indonesia according to AP News, transportation officials have signaled a strict review.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi assured that the findings will be thoroughly reviewed as part of the ministry’s evaluation, calling it a serious issue that will be thoroughly investigated. National Transportation Safety Committee investigators are currently working to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Broader Safety Concerns Across Indonesian Ferry Routes
This incident follows a similar maritime disaster that occurred less than two weeks prior. In late July, AP News reported that another passenger ferry, the Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire in waters off the main island of Java with hundreds on board, leaving at least five people dead.
Ferries serve as a common and essential transportation method connecting the thousands of islands that make up Indonesia. However, safety enforcement and regulatory oversight frequently receive the blame when maritime disasters occur across these busy transit corridors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Putri Yasmin ferry fire?
National Transportation Safety Committee investigators are currently determining the cause of the fire, though survivors told authorities the blaze appeared to have started in a cargo truck before quickly spreading.
How many people were rescued from the vessel?
As of Wednesday afternoon, rescuers evacuated 211 passengers from the burning ferry, including foreign tourists, while one passenger was found dead.
Are ferry fires common in Indonesia?
Yes. Ferries are a primary mode of transportation across Indonesia’s thousands of islands, and inadequate safety enforcement is often blamed for regular disasters, such as a late July ferry fire off the island of Java that left at least five people dead.
How might increased regulatory oversight affect ferry travel schedules across Indonesia’s island chains?
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