A ferry caught fire near Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, prompting a major rescue operation at sea. A Navy ship and several other boats quickly reached the area and helped evacuate more than 100 passengers.
The ferry was travelling from Bali to Lombok when the fire broke out early in the morning. According to officials, at least 114 people were believed to be on board. There were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries.
Passengers Evacuated Safely
Search and rescue teams were sent to the area soon after the fire was reported. A helicopter also flew over the scene to monitor the situation and support the rescue operation.
Passengers were moved from the burning ferry to nearby boats. One ferry took around 30 people back toward Bali, while another rescue vessel was travelling toward Lombok with 59 rescued passengers.
Officials were still checking the exact number of people who had been on the ferry as the rescue operation continued.
The quick response from nearby vessels helped prevent the situation from becoming more serious. Authorities were also working to make sure that all passengers and crew members had been accounted for.
Second Ferry Fire in Days
The incident has raised fresh concerns about ferry safety in Indonesia. It happened only a few days after another ferry caught fire near Java island, where five people reportedly died.
Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, making ferries and other boats an important part of daily transportation. Millions of people depend on sea travel to move between islands.
However, marine accidents remain a concern because of problems such as poor safety standards, overcrowding, equipment failures, and bad weather.
Last month, another ferry carrying more than 70 passengers sank near Selayar. Four bodies were recovered, while 14 people were still reported missing.
The latest fire is expected to bring renewed attention to safety standards for passenger ferries. Authorities will likely investigate what caused the fire and whether the vessel met all required safety rules.
For now, the priority remains confirming that everyone who was on board has been rescued and determining the exact cause of the incident.