More than 200 evacuated after Putri Yasmin ferry fire between Bali and Lombok
More than 200 people were evacuated and a 19-year-old passenger died after the Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire in rough seas on the Padang Bai–Lembar route between Bali and Lombok.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 4 min read
Bali — More than 200 people were evacuated after the Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire in rough seas in the Lombok Strait on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, while sailing from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar in Lombok, according to Indonesia’s Mataram Search and Rescue Office and international media reports.
Rescue officials said at least one passenger, a 19-year-old Indonesian woman, died in the incident, while more than 200 others were brought to safety at ports in Bali and Lombok. The head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, Muhamad Hariyadi, said the fire was reported shortly after 4 a.m. local time as the vessel was travelling through the Lombok Strait.
According to Hariyadi and the search and rescue office in Mataram, the fire began at about 4:15 a.m. while the ferry was en route from Padang Bai port in Bali to Lembar port in West Nusa Tenggara province. Rescue teams from the Indonesian navy, patrol boats and search-and-rescue vessels responded and began evacuating passengers and crew in challenging sea conditions.
Rescue and casualty figures
Initial reports from the Mataram Search and Rescue Office and Indonesian media said the vessel was carrying 114 passengers and 17 crew members, based on the manifest information from Padang Bai port authorities, along with 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles. Other reports later cited higher totals, with authorities and media putting the number of people on board at around 170 or more than 200.
The search and rescue office and international outlets reported that between 172 and 212 people were rescued, depending on the phase of the operation and the source cited. By Wednesday afternoon local time, officials quoted by several outlets said more than 200 passengers and crew had been evacuated to Bali and Lombok, and the body of the 19-year-old victim had been recovered.
Media reports and later updates indicated that search operations continued for missing passengers in the days after the fire, with rescue officials extending the operation to try to locate several people still unaccounted for. Local coverage cited search-and-rescue authorities as saying that the total number of passengers and crew was revised to 212 as the manifest and evacuation data were reconciled.
Vessel, route and conditions
The Putri Yasmin, described as a passenger and vehicle ferry operated on the Padang Bai–Lembar route, is part of a key sea link between Bali and Lombok used by domestic travellers and international tourists moving between the two islands. The fire occurred while the vessel was transiting the Lombok Strait in rough seas, with reports citing waves of up to around four metres that hampered the evacuation.
The ferry was transporting cars and motorcycles in addition to passengers. Officials said the blaze left the vessel disabled, and some reports cited search-and-rescue and naval sources saying the ship lost power and grounded, rendering it unable to sail. The exact origin of the fire has not been officially confirmed; local media reports suggested a possible link to a vehicle on board, but authorities said the cause remained under investigation.
Safety and travel information
As of the latest reports, search-and-rescue authorities and transport officials had not announced a definitive conclusion on the cause of the Putri Yasmin fire, and investigations were continuing. Coverage did not specify long-term changes to Padang Bai–Lembar sailings, but rescue officials and transport authorities urged operators to follow safety procedures, and travellers on the route are advised to check schedules and conditions with ferry operators or port authorities before departure.
Indonesia relies heavily on ferries to connect its many islands, and the Putri Yasmin fire was one of several serious maritime incidents reported in the country in recent years. International and local media have noted other ferry fires and sinkings, including earlier accidents off Java and in other parts of the archipelago, which have kept attention on vessel safety and oversight in the country’s inter-island transport network.
Sources
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