KMP Putri Yasmin Catches Fire in Lombok Strait, Joint SAR Team Evacuates Passengers
A fire broke out on the passenger ferry KMP Putri Yasmin as it sailed through the waters of Sekotong, bordering the Lombok Strait and Bali, on Wednesday morning (12/8/2026). The Mataram Search and Rescue Office (SAR), together with a joint team, is currently conducting an intensive evacuation of dozens of passengers on board.
According to the chronology, the incident began while the ship was en route from Padang Bai Port, Bali, to Lembar Port, Lombok. The fire was first spotted at 04:15 Central Indonesia Time (WITA). The Mataram SAR Office received an emergency signal at 04:39 WITA and immediately deployed personnel to the scene.
Head of the Mataram SAR Office, Muhamad Hariyadi, stated that the primary focus of the operation is ensuring the safety of all lives on board. ‘We have deployed KN 220 Mataram, a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), and a Rigid Buoyancy Boat (RBB) to the location to carry out the evacuation and coordinate with vessels in the vicinity,’ Hariyadi explained.
Given the scale of the emergency, the Mataram SAR Office is closely coordinating with the Denpasar SAR Office. Additional support has been dispatched, including the KN SAR Arjuna and aerial surveillance assistance from an SGi Air helicopter to map the situation more broadly.
Head of the Denpasar Basarnas, Nyoman Sidakarya, stated that his team has sent a number of supporting tools to expedite the rescue process. ‘We are focused on saving the passengers,’ he stressed.
As of the time of reporting, the joint SAR team, consisting of elements from the Indonesian Navy, KAL Lembar, West Lombok Police, Water and Air Police, the Lembar Harbourmaster, local residents, and yachts in the surrounding area, are still working together to carry out the evacuation.
In a positive development, the fire reportedly did not spread instantly, providing a sufficient window for officers to rescue the passengers. It is almost certain that all passengers are safe, although final data collection is still underway at the evacuation point.