Two Australians among dozens rescued from burning Bali ferry

Rescuers in Indonesia are intensifying efforts to evacuate survivors from a ferry that caught fire near the tourist island of Bali. The Putri Yasmin ferry was en route from Padang Bai port on Bali to Lembar port on Lombok in the West Nusa Tenggara province when the blaze erupted at around 4:15 a.m. on August 12, 2026.

Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) officials report that 106 people have been successfully rescued so far, but 25 individuals remain unaccounted for. The rescue operation has been complicated by rough seas with waves reported up to 4 meters (13 feet) high.

Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, emphasized that the priority remains the safety of all passengers and crew members. Rescue efforts have been bolstered by Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats, rescue vessels, and a helicopter conducting aerial surveys.

The ferry, carrying 114 passengers, 17 crew members, 44 vehicles, and 53 motorcycles, was carrying a total of 184 people. The passenger list was provided by the Padang Bai port authority. Indonesia, a nation comprising over 17,000 islands, frequently experiences ferry disasters, often attributed to lax safety enforcement.