Bali ferry erupts in flames sparking dramatic rescue operation – with two Australians among those on board

A fire broke out on the KMP Putri Yasmin ferry as it travelled from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar on Lombok early on Wednesday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving navy ships, patrol boats and a helicopter. One Indonesian woman died in the blaze, while 172 people, including three infants, were safely evacuated to ports on both islands; two Australians, a 20-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man, are understood to have been aboard. The incident has raised fresh concerns over ferry safety in Indonesia, coming just weeks after another fire on a vessel between East Java and South Sulawesi killed five people.

The ferry caught fire at around 4.20am local time amid rough seas, with waves up to four metres high, and was carrying 114 passengers, 17 crew, 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles. An emergency call went out roughly 30 minutes after the fire started, triggering the response led by the Mataram Search and Rescue Office. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and Indonesian authorities said an investigation would follow, while Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was making urgent enquiries to confirm whether any Australians were affected.