SAR Operation for KMP Putri Yasmin Officially Closed, 4 Victims Still Missing
The search and rescue (SAR) operation for victims of the KMP Putri Yasmin ferry fire in the waters of the Lombok Strait, West Nusa Tenggara, was officially closed on Wednesday (19/8/2026). The decision was taken after a joint team conducted intensive searches for eight days.
Head of the Mataram SAR Office and SAR Mission Coordinator, Muhamad Hariyadi, explained that the closure was carried out after a one-day extension of the search period from the standard regulatory schedule. ‘The closure today follows a one-day search extension,’ said Hariyadi in an official statement in Mataram on Wednesday afternoon.
Based on final data from the eight days of operations, the joint SAR team recorded a total of 212 passengers successfully evacuated in safe condition. However, the tragic incident also claimed lives and left victims who have not been found. ‘Up to the final day of the SAR operation closure, four other victims are declared missing,’ added Hariyadi.
Search efforts from the first day involved massive movements covering three domains: air, sea, and land. The sweep area was carried out in stages starting from the incident point in the Lombok Strait, the waters of Bali, and expanded towards the south of Java Island.
In the air operation, the team deployed a Finns SGi Air Bali helicopter, a CASSA NC212-200 aircraft (U-6215) belonging to the Indonesian Navy, and thermal drones to detect heat objects on the sea surface. Meanwhile, at sea, a fleet of KN SAR vessels, KAL, passenger ships, yachts, Rigid Buoyancy Boats (RBB), and RIBs were deployed simultaneously.
On land, the team combed the coastline and disseminated information to coastal communities. Coordination was also carried out through VTS Lembar to provide notices to ships passing through the search area.
Although the operation was officially halted because search results up to Wednesday afternoon remained nil, Hariyadi stressed that his party was not turning a blind eye entirely. The operation can be reopened if new evidence is found in the future.
‘In accordance with regulations, we officially close the SAR operation. However, this closure does not mean monitoring is stopped. We continue to coordinate with all SAR resources and fishermen. If signs or new information regarding the whereabouts of victims are found, the operation will be immediately reopened,’ he asserted.
With the end of this operation, all SAR resources involved have been returned to their respective units and agencies. Basarnas expressed its highest appreciation for the cross-agency synergy established during the emergency period.