BREAKING NEWS: Passenger Ferry Bound for Bali Ablaze in the Lombok Straits

Kompas and several national and regional media are reporting that the KMP Putri Yasmin – a passenger/car ferry sailing from Lembar, Lombok to the Port of Padangbai in Bali is ablaze and remains afloat in the Lombok Straits at midday on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.​

What Was Announced

The ship, carrying 114 passengers and 17 crew, left the Port of Lembar in Lombok at 2:00 am on Wednesday before sounding a “Mayday” alert and reporting it was on fire between 3:30 am and 4:00 am, some 2 hours into what is normally a 5-6 hour ferry crossing on the 68-kilometer voyage from Lembar in Lombok to Padangbai in Bali.

​Initial reports indicate that at least 33 passengers were safely evacuated from the burning ship on a Portlink Ferry Vessel and subsequently brought to Padangbai.

As quoted by Kompas, Heri Wiyanto, the acting harbor master (syahbandar) at Padangbai, Bali, stated that the evacuation process for KMP Putri Yasmin passengers was ongoing, relying on passing vessels and SAR boats for assistance.

​A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) Team is on the scene. The initial group of 33 passengers evacuated from the burning ship was reported to be unharmed and in good health.

​An aid station to assist evacuated passengers and communicate with relatives and friends has been established at the Bali Port of Padangbai.

Route Connectivity & Airline Partnerships

​Shortly after 4:00 am, the Captain of the KMP Putri Yasmin broadcast a “Mayday” message seeking assistance from passing ships and neighboring maritime authorities.

​A search-and-rescue effort is being coordinated by the SAR Office in Mataram (Lombok) and Denpasar (Bali). Assisting the rescue are the Indonesian Navy, the ferry vessel KMP PortLink II, police from West Lombok, the Indonesian Maritime Police Post in West Lombok, the Port Master’s Office in Lembar, at least one local yacht, a helicopter from SGi Air Bali, and volunteers from the general public in Lombok.

​The location of the vessel is approximately 16,85 Nautical mile off Sekotong Beach, Lombok, on a northwest bearing of 272.37 degrees (8°43’12.37″S-115°47’35.93″ E).

​The KMP Putri Yasmin’s manifest showed a load of 114 passengers and 17 crew. Broken down into its component parts, the manifest listed 44 occupants of passenger vehicles, 53 motorcycle riders, and 17 pedestrians. In addition, there was a listed crew complement of 17 souls, including the ship’s Captain.

Flight Schedules & Connecting Corridors

​Initial reports have confirmed injuries or loss of life in connection with the ship’s fire, still smoldering on Wednesday morning.

​Before the ship sailed from Lembar and in accordance with legal requirements and standard operating procedures, the Syahbandar certified the ship’s seaworthiness and ensured the required licenses and documentation for the vessel and its officers were complete and in hand.

​The KMP Putri Yasmin is an Indonesian-flagged vessel with a gross registered tonnage of 1,229 tons and net tonnage of 412 tons. The ship has a registered length of 58,5 meters and a draft of 2.80 meters. The ship is owned and operated by PT Jamrud Utama Nusantara.

​So far, there have been no reports indicating the possible origin or cause of the fire.

What It Means for Travelers

Expanded flight networks and codeshare routes broaden long-haul connectivity to Bali through regional hubs. Travelers booking connecting itineraries should verify luggage check-through agreements and ensure sufficient transit buffers between connecting flight legs. Prospective passengers departing through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) should monitor airline booking portals for schedule confirmations and baggage policies.