A ferry traveling between Indonesia's popular holiday islands of Bali and Lombok caught fire early Wednesday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation that evacuated over 170 people. One fatality was confirmed following the incident.
The vessel, en route from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar on Lombok, caught fire at approximately 4:39 a.m. local time amidst rough sea conditions with waves reaching up to four meters. The ferry was carrying 114 passengers, 17 crew members, 44 vehicles, and 53 motorcycles, according to passenger data.
Indonesian authorities confirmed the death of one Indonesian national and the successful evacuation of 172 individuals. Passengers and crew were brought to ports on both Bali and Lombok. The Daily Mail understands that two Australian citizens were among those on board.
An emergency call was placed nearly half an hour after the fire began, initiating an immediate response. The rescue efforts involved Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats, rescue vessels, and a helicopter. Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, stated that the top priority was the safety of all passengers and crew.
