Minister Confirms 173 Passengers Recorded in KMP Putri Yasmin Fire, SAR Operation to Last Seven Days

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has confirmed that 173 people have been temporarily recorded in the incident involving the fire on the KMP Putri Yasmin in the Lombok Strait. The data collection and search process is still ongoing intensively. “So far, 173 have been recorded. Perhaps later there will be ships arriving carrying victims, and we will record that as additional data,” Dudy said while reviewing the situation at Lembar Port, West Lombok, on Wednesday (12/8). The KMP Putri Yasmin was reported to have caught fire while sailing from Padangbai Port, Bali, to Lembar Port, Lombok, in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident triggered a rapid response from the relevant authorities to evacuate all passengers and crew. To ensure the accuracy of the manifest data and the whereabouts of passengers, the minister stated that the government will soon open a call centre for the public. This service is intended for families who suspect their relatives were on the voyage but have not yet been officially recorded. “For members of the public who believe their family members were on that voyage, we will open a call centre or complaint service,” he stressed. Dudy added that reports from families are crucial to assist the joint SAR team in confirming the exact number of people on board at the time of the incident. This data will serve as the primary reference for mapping the search focus. Regarding rescue procedures, the minister explained that the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) will lead the operation in accordance with prevailing regulations. The search and rescue operation is scheduled to last for one week. “According to the rules, Basarnas has seven days to conduct the search and rescue operation,” Dudy clarified. The operation is being carried out in an integrated manner involving various relevant maritime parties. The minister also requested full support from the public and the victims’ families so that the data collection process can be completed quickly and accurately, thereby resolving any confusion regarding the number of passengers on the KMP Putri Yasmin.