Rescue teams saved 211 individuals and recovered the body of a passenger from a ferry that caught fire near Bali, Indonesia. Authorities reported that the incident involved the ferry Putri Yasmin, traveling from Bali to Lombok in the West Nusa Tenggara province, when the fire began around 4:15 a.m.
The ferry carried 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles in addition to the passengers. The Search and Rescue Agency in Mataram, the provincial capital, received an emergency call and quickly dispatched personnel and rescue boats.
Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and crew members,
stated Muhammad Hariyadi, the agency’s director. Footage from the National Search and Rescue Agency showed individuals in life vests crowded on an inflatable raft amid choppy waters, while a thick black smoke plume rose from the ferry.
By Wednesday afternoon, rescuers had evacuated 211 people, including two Australian tourists, and retrieved the body of a 19-year-old Indonesian. Initial reports suggested 131 people, including 17 crew members, were on board. However, the actual number proved higher than listed, a common occurrence in Indonesia.
The Transportation Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, stated that authorities are investigating this discrepancy. The findings will be thoroughly reviewed as part of the ministry’s evaluation,
he said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Investigators are working to determine the fire’s cause. Syamsurizal, head of the Port Authority in Lombok, mentioned survivors reported the fire began in a cargo truck before spreading. Some passengers jumped overboard due to the heat.
Rescue efforts involved six vessels, a helicopter, two inflatable boats, and two private yachts. Challenging sea conditions, with waves reaching up to 4 meters, complicated the rescue operations.
Less than two weeks ago, another Indonesian ferry, Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire near Java, resulting in at least five deaths. Ferry accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.
Contributions to this report were made by correspondents Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko from Jakarta, Indonesia.