Bali Ferry Fire: One Dead, 172 Rescued in Lombok Strait Incident

What Happened

The KM Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire while sailing from Padangbai port in Bali to Lembar port in Lombok. The incident occurred in the Lombok Strait at approximately 4:30 AM local time on Wednesday. Rescuers evacuated 172 people from the burning vessel, including two Australian passengers. The body of a 19-year-old Indonesian woman was recovered.

Key Facts

• The KM Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire en route from Bali's Padangbai port to Lombok's Lembar port.
• The fire began in the Lombok Strait around 4:15 AM to 4:39 AM on Wednesday.
• 172 people were rescued, including two Australian nationals and the rest Indonesian.
• One 19-year-old Indonesian woman was confirmed dead.
• The ferry was carrying 114 passengers and 17 crew members according to manifest data, but officials noted that the actual number aboard often differs from manifests in Indonesia.
• The vessel was also transporting 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.
• Rescue operations involved more than 200 personnel, navy ships, patrol boats, rescue vessels, and a helicopter.
• Rough seas with waves up to 4 meters complicated the rescue efforts.
• At least two injured passengers were taken to a hospital.

Background

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. Ferry incidents are not uncommon, with weak safety enforcement frequently cited as a contributing factor.