Ferry Fire Near Bali Claims One Life, Over 200 Rescued Amid Difficult Seas

A woman died and over 200 people were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, while navigating rough seas between Bali and Lombok. The blaze erupted around 4:15 AM local time as the Putri Yasmin ferry crossed the Lombok Strait. Authorities received the alert about 30 minutes later and dispatched rescue vessels and teams. Indonesian officials confirmed that 212 individuals were evacuated to ports in Bali and Lombok, including two Australian tourists. The deceased was an Indonesian citizen.

The rescue operation involved at least three ships, a navy vessel, and another ferry that provided support. A helicopter surveyed the area. One survivor recounted putting on his life vest before jumping into the water, noting that help took several hours to arrive. The cause of the fire remains unknown. There are discrepancies regarding the exact number of people on board, as manifest lists showed fewer passengers and crew than those evacuated. Authorities are continuing search efforts to determine if anyone is missing.

The ferry was carrying 44 cars and 53 motorcycles. The rescue was complicated by difficult weather conditions, with waves reaching up to four meters. This incident occurs less than two weeks after at least five people died in a fire on another Indonesian ferry. Ferry transport is essential in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, but maritime accidents are frequent, and safety regulations are often questioned.

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He said that it took several hours for help to arrive.