Overview
- The KMP Putri Yasmin caught fire Wednesday while crossing the Lombok Strait from Padang Bai to Lembar with 131 people on board and authorities say at least 106 were rescued.
- Rescue units from BASARNAS, the Indonesian navy, nearby ferries and a helicopter coordinated a large evacuation that used life rafts and other ships to move passengers to safety.
- Responders reported the ferry lost power, ran aground and is not seaworthy, forcing operations to focus on getting people off the vessel rather than saving the ship.
- Casualty reporting remains unsettled because some local outlets cited a possible death and investigators are examining causes, with local media suggesting a truck on the vehicle deck may have ignited the blaze.
- The fire comes days after another deadly ferry blaze and will increase pressure on regulators and operators to tighten safety checks on passenger ferries and vehicle cargo on Indonesian routes.