Eyewitness News – Lombok
The Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency is currently executing an intensive SAR operation following a fire aboard the ferry KMP Putri Yasmin in the Lombok Strait waters on Wednesday (Aug 12) morning.
The incident reportedly occurred at 4:15 a.m. WITA (Central Indonesia Time) while the vessel was en route from Padang Bai Port to Lembar Port. The Mataram SAR Agency received an emergency distress call at 4:39 a.m. WITA and immediately deployed personnel to initiate evacuation efforts.
Head of the Mataram SAR Agency, Muhamad Hariyadi, emphasized that the team’s top priority remains the safety and lives of all passengers and crew members on board.
“We have dispatched the rescue ship KN 220 Mataram, Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), and Rigid Buoyancy Boats (RBBs) to the scene to carry out evacuations while coordinating with nearby vessels,” said Hariyadi.
The joint rescue mission involves a coordinated multi-agency response, including the Mataram SAR Agency, Denpasar SAR Agency, KMP PortLink II, KAL Lembar, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), West Lombok District Police, West Lombok Marine Police (Polairud), the Lembar Port Harbor Master, passing private yachts, SGi Air Bali, local residents, and other relevant stakeholders such as Finns Search and Recue.
As of press time, the joint SAR team remains at the scene actively carrying out the evacuation process.
Reporter: Daniel Herry
