Indonesian search and rescue teams successfully evacuated 172 people following a ferry fire in the Lombok Strait on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred while the Putri Yasmin ferry was traveling from the tourist port of Padang Bai in Bali toward Lembar port in Lombok.
Authorities confirmed one passenger died during the event. While the official passenger manifest listed 131 people on board, the total number of individuals evacuated suggests more passengers were aboard the vessel than initially reported. In addition to the passengers and 17 crew members, the ferry was carrying 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.
Rescue operations involved navy ships, patrol boats, and a helicopter to manage the evacuation. Personnel from the Mataram Search and Rescue Office cited challenging conditions, noting that rough seas with waves reaching 4 meters complicated the mission throughout the early hours.
Injured passengers received immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital. This incident marks another challenge for maritime safety in the region, coming shortly after another fire on a different ferry in the waters off the main island of Java. The Indonesian government continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy as they account for all survivors.