Over 100 passengers rescued from Indonesian ferry fire

More than 100 passengers were rescued after a fire broke out on a passenger ferry operating between the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali on Tuesday evening. The vessel, which was carrying roughly 150 people, caught fire while navigating the Bali Strait, prompting the crew to abandon ship and local authorities to launch a coordinated rescue operation. Emergency services, including the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and nearby coast guard units, arrived within minutes and used lifeboats and inflatable rafts to evacuate passengers to safety.

Rescue teams reported that no fatalities were confirmed, though several individuals sustained minor injuries and were treated at a nearby hospital. The fire, believed to have originated in the engine compartment, was extinguished after approximately two hours, and investigators from the Ministry of Transportation have begun a preliminary inquiry into the cause. Authorities have urged ferry operators to review safety protocols and ensure compliance with fire‑prevention measures as they continue to assess the incident and provide assistance to those affected.