The Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire off the coast of Bali, Indonesia, during a severe storm: rescuers managed to evacuate 106 people, while another 25 passengers and crew members remain on board. Rescuers and vessels passing nearby managed to save 106 people. At the same time, they were attempting to evacuate another 25 people from the burning vessel, authorities said. Associated Press reports this, writes UNN.
Details
"Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and crew members," said Muhammad Hariyadi, who heads the Mataram Search and Rescue Office.
According to him, difficult weather conditions, including waves up to 4 meters high, complicated the rescue operation.
The fire started at approximately 4:15 a.m. as the Putri Yasmin ferry was sailing from Padang Bai Port in Bali to Lembar Port on the neighboring island of Lombok in the province of West Nusa Tenggara, the search and rescue office in Mataram, the province's administrative center, reported.
About half an hour later, the agency received an emergency report and immediately dispatched personnel and rescue vessels to the scene.
Hariyadi said that Indonesian Navy ships, patrol and rescue boats, as well as a helicopter conducting an aerial survey of the area, took part in the rescue operation.
According to Hariyadi, the ferry was carrying 114 passengers and 17 crew members, according to the passenger manifest released by the Padang Bai Port administration. There were also 44 cars and 53 motorcycles on board.
Background
Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are a common means of transportation. Disasters occur regularly, and insufficient oversight of compliance with safety regulations is often cited as the cause.
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