A Indonesia ferry fire claimed the life of a girl and left 172 people rescued after a ferry caught fire near Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali amid rough seas that hampered rescue operations.
Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency said the blaze broke out on board the Putri Yasmin ferry while it was travelling from Padang Bai port in Bali to Lembar port on the neighbouring island of Lombok.
Rescue operation in difficult sea conditions
Authorities said rescue teams evacuated 172 people from the burning ferry, including two Australian tourists, and recovered the body of a girl who died in the incident.
In another account, official reports said rescuers initially saved 106 people while trying to evacuate the remaining passengers as rough seas continued to make the operation difficult.
High waves slowed the response
Mohammad Heriadi, head of the Mataram search and rescue office, said the top priority was the safety of all passengers and crew members.
He added that rough waves reportedly reaching four metres in height hindered rescue efforts.
The operation was supported by Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats and rescue vessels, as well as a helicopter conducting an aerial survey of the scene.
Passenger numbers and vessel details
According to the passenger manifest issued by the Padang Bai port authority, the ferry was carrying 114 passengers and 17 crew members, along with 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.
Authorities have not yet determined whether the number of passengers or possible overcrowding played any role in the incident, and the cause of the fire remains unclear.
Ferry travel in Indonesia
Indonesia, which comprises about 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for inter-island transport because they are cheaper and more widely available than air travel.
That dependence makes ferry safety a recurring concern, especially when incidents occur in rough weather conditions such as those near Bali.
Conclusion:
The Indonesia ferry fire highlights the risks of maritime travel in the Indonesian archipelago, especially during difficult sea conditions. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blaze, while the final toll and damage remain under review.
