The Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire in the Lombok Strait while traveling from Padang Bai port in Bali to Lembar port in Lombok, Indonesia, on Wednesday, August 12.
The fire broke out at approximately 4:15 a.m. (1045 GMT) while the vessel was navigating rough seas with waves reaching heights of 4 meters (13 feet). A spokesperson for the Indonesian naval unit on Lombok stated that the ferry's power failed and the vessel ran aground.
Local media reported that the fire may have been caused by a truck on board, though the official cause has not been determined. The ferry was carrying 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles at the time of the incident.
Rescue operations and casualties
More than 200 emergency responders participated in the rescue operation.
Reports on the number of people evacuated vary, with some sources reporting 172 people rescued, while others report between 130 and 144.
Heri Wiyanto, head of the port authority, initially reported 131 people on board, consisting of 114 passengers and 17 crew members, though later reports indicated a higher number of people were on the vessel.
Two Australian tourists were among those evacuated.
Syamsurizal, head of the Lembar Port Authority, said at least two injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital. While initial reports indicated no casualties, later reports confirmed the death of a 19-year-old Indonesian woman.
It took a few hours before there was any help.
We have approached the ship and confirmed that all passengers are no longer on board.
Recent maritime incidents in Indonesia
This incident is the second major ferry fire in Indonesia within two weeks. A ferry fire off the coast of Java Island last week resulted in at least five deaths.
Other recent maritime accidents include a ferry that sank near Selayar Island, south of Sulawesi, last month, leaving 14 people officially missing after four bodies were recovered. In July 2023, a ferry sank between Java and Bali, killing nearly 20 people.
