Overview
- Rescue teams and passing ships evacuated at least 114 people from a passenger ferry that caught fire while sailing from Bali to Lombok early Wednesday, moving survivors onto a navy vessel and other ferries.
- Authorities reported no immediate casualties but are still verifying the ship manifest and counting survivors against the list of passengers and crew.
- Search-and-rescue units used navy ships, patrol boats and a helicopter to monitor the scene while rough seas with waves up to about 4 meters complicated efforts.
- This blaze is the second serious ferry fire in days and follows a deadly Aug. 2 ferry fire off Java that killed five people and prompted a formal KNKT safety probe.
- The cluster of recent accidents highlights chronic problems cited by officials—weak enforcement, inaccurate passenger lists and risky vehicle or cargo loads—and could trigger tougher inspections and operator reviews.