Indonesia Investigates Passenger Data Discrepancy After Deadly Bali Ferry Fire

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Discrepancy Emerges Between Passenger Manifest and Evacuation Totals

Initial reports based on the ship’s manifest stated that the ferry was carrying 131 people, including 17 crew members, when the fire broke out at approximately 4:15 a.m., according to the Mataram Search and Rescue Office. However, hours after the incident, officials reported that a significantly higher number of people were aboard than listed.

Rescuers evacuated 211 people from the burned vessel, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency cited by CTV News, while CBS News reported a total of 172 rescued survivors. Both totals substantially exceeded the figures on the initial ship manifest. Officials noted that passenger counts differing from manifests remain a common occurrence on boats and ferries across Indonesia.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi announced that the government will review the inconsistency. The findings will be thoroughly reviewed as part of the ministry’s evaluation, Purwagandhi said, as reported by CTV News. This is a serious issue that will be thoroughly investigated.

Rescue Operations and Damage in the Lombok Strait

The ferry was transporting 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles alongside its passengers when the blaze started in the Lombok Strait. Survivors told Syamsurizal, head of the Lembar Port Authority in Lombok, that the fire appeared to originate in a cargo truck before spreading rapidly across the vessel. The intense heat forced some passengers to jump directly into the sea, according to port authorities.

Rescue efforts faced severe weather conditions, with rough seas and waves reaching up to four meters, or 13 feet, in height. Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, stated that the operation was supported by six vessels, a helicopter, two inflatable boats, and two private yachts.

Rescuers recovered the body of a 19-year-old Indonesian woman and rescued two Australian tourists among the survivors. At least two injured passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to port officials.

Broader Safety Concerns Across Indonesian Waters

The disaster occurred less than two weeks after another ferry, the Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire in waters off the main island of Java, resulting in at least five deaths. Indonesia relies heavily on ferries across its archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, though maritime disasters occur regularly amid ongoing scrutiny of safety enforcement.

Authorities stated that investigation teams are actively working to determine the precise technical cause of the fire aboard the Putri Yasmin while continuing to account for all individuals involved in the incident.