Ferry Fire Near Bali: Rescue Efforts and Safety Concerns

A rescue team successfully saved 211 individuals and recovered the body of a passenger from a ferry fire near Bali, Indonesia. This incident occurred as the ferry faced rough waters, according to local authorities.

The vessel, named Putri Yasmin, was en route from Bali to the neighboring island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara province. The fire began around 4:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Aboard the ferry were 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.

Mataram’s Search and Rescue Agency, located in the capital of West Nusa Tenggara, received an emergency alert approximately 30 minutes after the fire started. The agency promptly dispatched personnel and rescue boats. Muhammad Hariyadi, the agency’s director, emphasized, “Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and crew members.”

Footage released by the National Search and Rescue Agency depicted individuals wearing life jackets crowded on an inflatable raft amid turbulent seas, while a thick plume of black smoke emanated from the ferry.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the agency reported evacuating 211 individuals from the burnt vessel, including two Australian tourists. They also recovered the body of a 19-year-old Indonesian woman. Initially, reports noted 131 individuals on board, according to the ship’s manifest, which included 17 crew members. However, it was later revealed that more people were on the ferry than initially recorded.

This discrepancy in passenger numbers is common in Indonesia. The reason for the difference remains unexplained. Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed that authorities will investigate this discrepancy. “Findings will be thoroughly reviewed as part of the ministry’s evaluation,” Purwagandhi stated. “This is a serious matter that will be investigated thoroughly.” Investigators are also working to determine the fire’s cause.

Syamsurizal, the head of the Lembar Port Authority in Lombok, noted that survivors informed authorities that the fire appeared to have started in a cargo truck before spreading rapidly throughout the ferry. The fire’s heat forced some passengers to jump into the sea.

“The response operation continues, and authorities are still accounting for all the victims,” Syamsurizal, who goes by a single name like many Indonesians, explained. He indicated that at least two injured passengers were urgently taken to a nearby hospital.

Hariyadi detailed that the rescue operation involved six vessels, a helicopter, two inflatable boats, and two private yachts. The rescue efforts faced challenging conditions with waves up to four meters (13 feet) high.

This incident occurred less than two weeks after another Indonesian ferry, Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire off Java island, resulting in at least five fatalities. Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, frequently relies on ferries for transportation. Accidents are common, often due to weak enforcement of safety regulations.

Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko, correspondents based in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative AI tool.