The Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire near Bali on Aug. 12, forcing the evacuation of 211 passengers and the recovery of one deceased, a 19-year-old Indonesian woman. Rough seas complicated the rescue, with footage showing passengers in life jackets boarding an inflatable raft. Officials say the ship's manifest undercounted those on board, and the Transportation Ministry has launched a formal review. Investigations into the cause and passenger records are ongoing.
Ferry Fire Near Bali: Putri Yasmin Blaze Forces 211 Evacuations, Kills One as Rough Seas Hamper Rescue
Image Credit: National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas)/CBS News.
On Aug. 12 a passenger ferry, the Putri Yasmin, caught fire while en route from Bali to Lombok, prompting a large-scale rescue operation and the evacuation of 211 people. Rescuers recovered the body of a 19-year-old Indonesian woman from the burning vessel.
According to AP News, the blaze began at about 4:15 a.m., and nearly 30 minutes later an emergency alert reached the Search and Rescue Office in Mataram. Teams and specialized vehicles were dispatched immediately to the scene.
Video released by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency shows passengers in life jackets boarding an inflatable raft while waves and rough seas made transfers and rescue work more difficult. The footage highlights the added danger rescuers faced during the operation.
Early reports listed 131 people on board, including 17 crew members, but rescuers soon discovered that the manifest undercounted actual passenger numbers. Authorities say the Putri Yasmin was carrying hundreds of passengers along with 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.
Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, said: "We have approached the ship and confirmed that all passengers are no longer on board."
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the ministry will "thoroughly review" the findings and investigate the discrepancies in the manifest and overall safety procedures. Officials are continuing to verify passenger lists and investigate the cause of the fire.
This incident follows a late-July ferry fire off Sulawesi in which hundreds were aboard and at least five people died, including a pregnant woman. AP News notes that ferries remain the primary mode of transport among Indonesia’s thousands of islands, and inadequate safety enforcement is frequently cited as a factor in such tragedies.
Authorities continue to examine the timeline, passenger records, and safety compliance as maritime investigators and rescue officials assess accountability and next steps.
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