KMP Putri Yasmin Fire: Padangbai-Lembar Ferry Services Remain Normal

The fire aboard the KMP Putri Yasmin in the Lombok Strait has not disrupted ferry crossings between Padangbai and Lembar. A day after the incident, services from Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali, to Lembar Port in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, continued to operate normally.

Acting Head of the Padangbai Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office, Heri Wijayanto, stated that there were no delays to vessel departures following the fire on the KMP Putri Yasmin on Wednesday morning. ‘It is still normal as usual, there are no delays,’ Wijayanto said on Thursday.

Passenger numbers crossing the strait also remain at typical levels, with trips to Lembar Port unchanged since before the fire incident. ‘Passenger numbers are still normal, averaging 1,200 to 1,300 people per day up to yesterday,’ Wijayanto noted.

Observations at the port showed a range of vehicles, from motorcycles and cars to large lorries, queuing to board the ferries. Passengers also expressed no concern about making the crossing despite the previous day’s fire in the Lombok Strait. ‘I have business in Lombok, so I have to go home today. I feel fine, the important thing is to remember to pray before departing,’ said a passenger named Helmi.

Amid the normal crossing activity, the search continues for passengers of the KMP Putri Yasmin who have yet to be found. Wijayanto said a joint SAR team is searching for passengers based on reports from their families and expressed hope that all missing individuals will be located soon.

Regarding the discrepancy between the manifest and the number of evacuated passengers, the Padangbai Harbourmaster’s Office stated it is not yet focusing on that issue. The current priority remains the search for the missing passengers, though the manifest discrepancy will later be used as material for evaluation.