Denpasar: Rescuers searched the Lombok Strait off Indonesia's Bali island on Thursday for five people missing after a ferry caught fire, leading to the death of one passenger and compelling dozens to jump overboard, officials stated. A total of 211 people were rescued and brought ashore by vessels, including a navy ship and another ferry that responded promptly to the incident on Wednesday. According to TRTworld.com, a 19-year-old Indonesian woman was found deceased. By Thursday, the focus of the rescue efforts had shifted to locating the five passengers still unaccounted for. The search and rescue office in Mataram on Lombok island released a statement regarding the ongoing operations. The ferry had been traveling from Bali to Lombok when it encountered difficulties early on Wednesday morning. "In addition to direct searches, we have also instructed ships passing through the Lombok Strait to provide initial assistance or immediately inform the command post if they find any victims," stated Muhamad Hariyadi , a search and rescue official, in the statement. Survivors have recounted the chaotic evacuation that ensued. Kiky Okta Pradika, a 25-year-old survivor, shared with reporters in Lembar on Lombok that he secured a life jacket before leaping overboard with other passengers. He recounted that there was a significant delay before any help arrived. Another survivor, Sutrisna, aged 45, described the panic as passengers scrambled for life jackets while lifeboats were being lowered from the distressed ferry. The evacuation was further complicated by challenging wave conditions. Marine accidents are frequent in Indonesia, an archipelago comprised of over 17,000 islands that rely on boat connections for transport and tourism. The combination of lax safety standards and unpredictable weather often contributes to such incidents. In a similar event last week, five people perished following a ferry fire off Java island. The previous month, a ferry with over 70 passengers sank near Selayar, leading to four recovered bodi es and 14 individuals still declared missing.
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