The key facts

  • The ferry KMP Batumandi caught fire near Merak-Besar Island in Banten province, Indonesia
  • All 460 people were evacuated: 420 passengers and 40 crew members
  • 18 vessels were involved in the operation; the cause of the fire is unknown

Fire on Ferry Off Java Coast

The passenger ferry KMP Batumandi caught fire on Tuesday near Merak-Besar Island in Banten province, Indonesia. According to the local English-language newspaper Jakarta Globe, citing rescue services, there were 420 passengers and 40 crew members on board.

Evacuation and Firefighting

All 460 people on board were evacuated during a multi-hour rescue operation. 18 vessels and support units were mobilized for the evacuation and firefighting, including rescue boats, tugs, patrol vessels, and fishing boats. Video footage shown by several television channels captured thick black smoke rising above the vessel and panic among the passengers.

Cause of Fire and Context

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Merak Port is a major ferry hub connecting the islands of Java and Sumatra across the Sunda Strait, one of the country's busiest ferry routes. Indonesia, made up of more than 17,000 islands, has a long history of maritime accidents: according to the agency, more than 80 people died last month when a ferry capsized in the Java Sea.