An Australian survivor has described escaping a ferry fire off Bali, saying he saw “massive” flames and drifted in the sea for four hours despite suffering broken ribs. More than 170 people were evacuated, and Indonesian authorities confirmed that an Indonesian woman died, underlining the danger faced by passengers during the emergency.

The KMP Putri Yasmin caught fire at about 4.20am local time on Wednesday while travelling from Padang Bai to Lembar on Lombok. The incident occurred in rough seas, with waves reportedly reaching up to four metres, complicating rescue efforts.