Transportation Ministry handles KMP Putri Yasmin ferry fire; passenger evacuation swift

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation is addressing a fire that broke out on the KMP Putri Yasmin ferry in the waters off Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara Province. The passenger ferry was en route from Padangbai, Bali, to Lembar, Lombok, when the incident occurred early Wednesday morning around 04:20 WITA.

Following the report, the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, along with joint SAR teams, initiated rapid response measures. These included broadcasting distress signals and dispatching rescue vessels to the scene. I Ketut Aries Nakula Mandiana, acting head of the Benoa Class Type A Navigation District, confirmed that distress signals (MAYDAY) were broadcast multiple times to nearby vessels requesting immediate assistance.

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As soon as the information was received at 04:20 WITA, VTS Benoa and SROP Padangbai immediately broadcast distress signals (broadcast MAYDAY) three times to ships in the vicinity to provide assistance as quickly as possible.

VTS Benoa coordinated closely with VTS Lembar to relay the emergency information. The Denpasar SAR Office was also alerted and deployed the RIB Nusa Penida to the location. From the Lembar side, the Head of the Lembar Class II Port Authority and Harbor Master (KSOP), Syamsurizal, also responded promptly.

Syamsurizal stated that cross-agency coordination was activated to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. "We at KSOP Lembar, along with the team on the ground, including coordination with SAR NTB, are taking emergency measures to support the evacuation from the Lembar area. Synergy between maritime elements is the top priority to ensure the handling proceeds smoothly and safely," he said. The swift and coordinated response aimed to manage the fire and facilitate the safe evacuation of all individuals on board.

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We at KSOP Lembar, along with the team on the ground, including coordination with SAR NTB, are taking emergency measures to support the evacuation from the Lembar area. Synergy between maritime elements is the top priority to ensure the handling proceeds smoothly and safely.