Ferry fire near Bali leaves one dead, 211 rescued

A ferry traveling from Bali to Lombok caught fire in rough seas on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, resulting in one fatality and the rescue of 211 people. The Putri Yasmin ferry was transporting 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles when the fire began around 4:15 a.m. The Mataram Search and Rescue Office received an emergency report almost half an hour later and deployed personnel and rescue vessels. Muhaamad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, stated that the safety of all passengers and crew members was their top priority. Videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed people wearing life jackets in an inflatable life raft in choppy waters as thick black smoke billowed from the ferry. As of Wednesday afternoon, rescuers had evacuated 211 people, including two Australian tourists, and recovered the body of a 9-year-old Indonesian woman. Initial reports based on the ship's manifest indicated 300 people, including 7 crew members, were on board, but officials later said more people were present than listed. It is common in Indonesia for the number of passengers on a boat or ferry to differ from the manifest. Authorities did not immediately account for the discrepancy. The response operation is ongoing to account for all victims, according to Syafurizal, head of the Lembar Port Authority. At least two injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital. Investigators are determining the cause of the fire, with survivors reporting that the blaze appeared