One dead, 172 rescued as second ferry in days catches fire in Indonesia

A woman lost her life and over 170 individuals were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the Indonesian island of Bali on Wednesday, according to a rescue official. The navy vessel and other ships swiftly evacuated 172 people from the stricken passenger ship, including two Australian tourists, reported search and rescue official Muhamad Hariyadi to AFP. The 19-year-old Indonesian woman was confirmed dead, said Hariyadi, who was on Lombok island, where the ferry had been en route from Bali.

Photographer at Lembar on Lombok's west coast witnessed one person being carried away on a body bag. Survivor Kiky Okta Pradika, 25, recounted to reporters in Lembar that he had grabbed a life jacket before leaping into the water alongside several other passengers. He stated that there was a few hours before assistance arrived.

Hariyadi revealed that passengers were rescued using at least three separate vessels, including a navy ship and another ferry that swiftly responded to the scene in the early morning hours. Search and rescue vessels were present at the location, while a helicopter conducted surveillance from above. Hariyadi previously stated that there were no survivors on the burning ferry.

There was no immediate information regarding any injured or missing individuals. Five people died last week when a ferry caught fire off Java island. Maritime accidents are a frequent occurrence in Indonesia, an archipelago comprising more than 17,000 islands that heavily relies on boat connections for daily transportation and tourism.

Lax safety standards and unpredictable weather conditions are the primary causes of these disasters. Last month, a ferry carrying over 70 people sank near Selayar, a small island south of Sulawesi, with four bodies recovered, while 14 others remained officially missing.