Bali ferry fire in rough seas: 172 rescued, one passenger dies

Jakarta,UPDATED: Aug 12, 2026 13:28 IST

Rescue teams saved 172 people and recovered the body of a passenger after a ferry caught fire in rough seas near the Indonesian tourist island of Bali on Wednesday, authorities said.

The Putri Yasmin was travelling from Bali to the neighbouring island of Lombok when the fire broke out early in the morning. Officials said at least two passengers were injured, and efforts were continuing to account for all victims.

According to the search and rescue office in Mataram, the provincial capital of West Nusa Tenggara, the fire started at about 4.15 am as the ferry was sailing from Padang Bai port in Bali to Lembar port on Lombok through the Lombok Strait. The agency said it received an emergency report nearly half an hour later and immediately sent personnel and rescue vessels.

"Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and crew members," said Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office. He said the operation was backed by Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats, rescue vessels and a helicopter for a survey from the air. He added that rough seas, with waves reported to be as high as 4 metres, made the rescue work more difficult.

Initial reports said the ferry was carrying 131 people, including 17 crew members, according to the ship's passenger list. But hours later, officials said more people were on board than were listed. The ferry was also carrying 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles. It is common in Indonesia for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry to differ from the passenger list.

The Search and Rescue Agency, or Basarnas, said 172 people, including two Australian tourists, were evacuated from the burned vessel. It also said rescuers recovered the body of a 19-year-old Indonesian girl. Syamsurizal, head of the Lembar Port Authority, said at least two injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital. "The response operation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to account for all victims," he said.

The incident came less than two weeks after another Indonesian ferry, the Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire in waters off the main island of Java, leaving at least five people dead. Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries are a common way to travel, and such disasters occur regularly, with weak safety enforcement often blamed.

With PTI Inputs

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