SAR Team Expands Search for Missing Passengers After KMP Putri Yasmin Fire

A joint search and rescue (SAR) team has expanded its search area to the southwest and is broadcasting alerts to passing vessels as the operation continues for five missing passengers following the KMP Putri Yasmin ferry fire. The incident occurred in the waters of the Lombok Strait near Sekotong, West Lombok, on Wednesday. As of Thursday, the total number of victims evacuated stands at 212, with 211 survivors and one confirmed fatality. The manifest data has been described as chaotic, with Basarnas Mataram noting a discrepancy of 56 people compared to the 173 passengers initially reported by the Minister of Transportation. The SAR operation involves a coordinated effort between the Mataram and Denpasar SAR offices, the Indonesian Navy, the police, the local port authority, and other agencies. The head of the Mataram SAR Office stated that the search is focused on the southwest area from the incident site, while also instructing passing ships to report any sightings of victims. A member of the House of Representatives Commission V has called for a thorough evaluation of the national shipping safety and supervision system following the incident.