Passenger ferry catches fire near Bali; 106 rescued, 25 still trapped

A passenger ferry experienced a fire in treacherous waters off Indonesia's Bali island on Wednesday, prompting rescue efforts that led to the safe evacuation of 106 individuals. The Putri Yasmin ferry, transporting 114 passengers and 17 crew members, was en route from Padang Bai port in Bali to Lembar port on Lombok island in West Nusa Tenggara province when the blaze erupted at approximately 4:15 am.

Despite the challenging conditions, authorities, including rescue personnel from Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats, and rescue vessels, along with a helicopter, worked diligently to battle the fire and rescue the remaining 25 people on board.

Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, emphasized that the primary objective was the safety of all passengers and crew members. He noted that rough seas, with waves reaching up to 4 meters (13 feet), complicated the rescue operation. Reports of the fire reached the Mataram Search and Rescue Office nearly 30 minutes after the incident, and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene immediately.

The ferry was also carrying 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles, as per passenger manifest data provided by the Padang Bai port authority. Indonesia, a nation comprising over 17,000 islands, heavily relies on ferries for inter-island travel. However, ferry accidents are relatively common in the country due to weak safety enforcement, often being cited as a contributing factor.