Australians Among Survivors Rescued After Deadly Bali Ferry Fire

At least two Australians were among more than 200 people rescued after a passenger ferry caught fire in the Lombok Strait off the coast of Bali, according to emergency authorities. The KM Putri Yasmin was travelling from Bali’s Padangbai Port to Lembar Port in Lombok when the blaze broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026.

Ferry Fire Erupts in Lombok Strait

The ferry caught alight at 4:39 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, according to the head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, Muhammad Hariyadi. Official manifest figures cited by port authorities show the vessel was carrying 114 passengers and 17 crew members, alongside 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.

Passenger James Scooth described heavy flames breaking out as people rushed to evacuate the vessel. Everyone panicked and just ripped out their life jackets, Mr. Scooth told 7News, adding that there were no lifeboats available on board. He spent about four hours floating in the water before being rescued.

Challenging Marine Rescue Operation

By Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12, 2026, rescue personnel had accounted for at least 212 survivors brought ashore in Bali and Lombok, according to Mr. Hariyadi. The rescue operation involved more than 200 personnel, utilizing Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats, rescue vessels, and a helicopter deployed for aerial surveys.

Authorities stated that rough sea conditions significantly hampered rescue efforts, with waves reported to reach heights of four metres. Officials confirmed that a 19-year-old Indonesian woman died in the incident. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire aboard the KM Putri Yasmin.