Ferry fire off Lombok kills one person, prompts large-scale rescue operation

Indonesian search and rescue personnel evacuated a large number of passengers on Wednesday after the KM Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire while travelling from Padangbai port in Bali to Lembar port in Lombok. At least one person was confirmed dead. The incident occurred in the Lombok Strait; the two sources differ on the exact time, with The Japan Times reporting 4:39 a.m. and Deutsche Welle reporting approximately 4:15 a.m. local time.

Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the local rescue agency — identified by Deutsche Welle as head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office — said the ferry's manifest, released by Padangbai port authority, listed 114 passengers and 17 crew members. However, the final number of people on board was significantly higher than the 131 indicated in the manifest.

The two sources report different totals for those rescued. The Japan Times states that more than 200 people were evacuated to ports in Bali and Lombok, while Deutsche Welle reports that 172 people were rescued. Deutsche Welle provides a partial breakdown: a nearby ferry evacuated 30 passengers to Bali, a search and rescue vessel transported 59 rescued passengers to Lembar port, and a naval vessel picked up another 17 passengers.

Deutsche Welle identifies the person killed as a 19-year-old woman. Hariyadi initially told Metro TV that all passengers had been removed from the burning vessel before later confirming the death.

Hariyadi said the burning ferry was surrounded by rough seas, with waves reaching up to 4 metres (13 feet), which complicated rescue efforts, according to Deutsche Welle. More than 200 personnel were deployed to handle the operation, The Japan Times reported.

Survivor Kiky Okta Pradika, 25, told reporters in Lembar that he had grabbed a life jacket before jumping overboard with several other passengers, according to Deutsche Welle. He said there were several hours before any rescue assistance arrived.

The two sources differ on the nationality of rescued passengers: The Japan Times states that among the evacuees the majority were Indonesian with one Australian national, while Deutsche Welle reports that two of the rescued passengers were Australian tourists.

The cause of the fire was not established. The Japan Times noted it was unclear whether overcrowding was a factor.

The incident is the second major ferry fire in Indonesia within a short period. Both sources note that five people died in a separate ferry fire off the coast of Java or Madura island shortly before this incident. Deutsche Welle additionally notes that a ferry carrying more than 70 people sank near Seayar Island last month, with four bodies recovered and 14 officially still missing, and that in July of the previous year a ferry sank between Java and Bali, killing nearly 20 people.

Indonesia is an archipelago of approximately 17,000 islands that relies heavily on ferry transport, as sea routes are more affordable and accessible than air travel, according to The Japan Times. Both sources note that marine accidents are a recurring problem in Indonesia, with The Japan Times adding that safety standards are not always rigorously enforced.

Where sources differ

• Number of people rescued: The Japan Times reports more than 200 evacuated; Deutsche Welle reports 172 rescued.
• Time the fire broke out: The Japan Times states 4:39 a.m.; Deutsche Welle states approximately 4:15 a.m. local time.
• Nationality of rescued passengers: The Japan Times reports one Australian national among the evacuees; Deutsche Welle reports two Australian tourists rescued.

• The cause of the fire has not been established by any of the sources.
• The total confirmed number of people on board at the time of the fire has not been definitively established.
• Whether any passengers remain missing after the rescue operation concluded is not confirmed; The Japan Times noted the search was continuing for any other missing passengers.
• No statement or response from the ferry operator or shipping company appears in any source.
• No statement from Indonesian government officials beyond the rescue agency is included.
• The identity of the deceased beyond her age and gender (as reported by Deutsche Welle) is not provided.
• Conditions that led to the fire, and whether overcrowding was a contributing factor, remain unresolved.

1. The Japan Times — original — by The Japan Times
2. Deutsche Welle — by Mahima Kapoor

Read the original at The Japan Times

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