SAR Team Evacuates Passengers from Burning Ferry in Lombok Strait

Mataram (ANTARA) - The Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, together with a joint team, is currently conducting an intensive SAR operation following a fire on board the KMP Putri Yasmin in the waters of the Lombok Strait, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday morning.

The incident was reported at 04:15 WITA while the ship was en route from Padang Bai Port to Lembar Port. The Mataram SAR Office received the emergency report at 04:39 WITA and immediately deployed personnel to carry out the evacuation process, stated Head of the Mataram SAR Office, Muhamad Hariyadi.

He stressed that the team’s main priority at present is the safety of all passengers and crew.

“We have deployed the KN 220 Mataram, a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), and a Rigid Buoyancy Boat (RBB) to the scene to conduct the evacuation and coordinate with vessels in the vicinity of the incident,” he said.

Given the emergency situation, the Mataram SAR Office is also coordinating with the Denpasar SAR Office, which has deployed the KN SAR Arjuna to assist in the evacuation and dispatched a helicopter from SGi Air Bali for wider aerial surveillance.

This SAR operation involves synergy from various elements, including the Mataram SAR Office, Denpasar SAR Office, KMP PortLink II, KAL Lembar, the Indonesian Navy, West Lombok Police, West Lombok Water and Air Police, the Lembar Port Harbourmaster, a yacht, SGi Air Bali, the local community, and other related parties.

“As of now, the joint SAR team remains at the scene to carry out the evacuation process,” he said.