Source : Perth Now news
A deadly ferry fire in Indonesia has thrown a spotlight on one of the region’s busiest island crossings, with at least two Australians believed to be among those who made it off the vessel alive.
Emergency authorities said one person died after the KM Putri Yasmin caught fire in the Lombok Strait in the early hours of Wednesday while travelling from Bali’s Padangbai port to Lembar in Lombok.
By later in the day, rescuers had accounted for 172 survivors, who were brought ashore in Bali and Lombok.
The victim was a 19-year-old Indonesian woman. It has been reported that an Australian man and woman were among those rescued.
Authorities said the alarm was raised shortly after the fire broke out and rescue crews were sent to the scene immediately. Search and rescue chief Muhammad Hariyadi said teams moved quickly to respond.
“Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and crew members,” Mr Hariyadi said.
The emergency response involved more than 200 personnel, with Indonesian navy ships, patrol boats and rescue vessels joining the operation. A helicopter was also deployed to survey the area from the air.
Rescue efforts were made more difficult by rough conditions, with waves reportedly reaching four metres.
Official manifest figures show there were 114 passengers and 17 crew on board, along with 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles.
Investigators are still working to determine what sparked the blaze.
