A ferry heading from Bali to Lombok burst into flames on Thursday night, with all 53 passengers and 22 crew members surviving the incident by jumping into the ocean.
"I jumped overboard when the fire reached my truck," said passenger Ahmad Gazali.
The 37-year-old truck driver said he was sleeping in his truck when the incident occurred.
"I woke up after my truck window shattered. I thought someone had thrown something through it, but then I saw a fire at the front of my truck. I quickly got out and jumped into the ocean," Ahmad said.
The incident happened at around 9 p.m. on Thursday night. The ferry, called the KMP Gelis Rauh, burst into flames at sea around one hour after it had set sail from Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali to Lembar Port, Lombok. The incident occurred around seven miles from Padangbai Port, near Nusa Penida waters.
A joint team from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Denpasar, the police, and the Navy immediately launched a rescue operation of all passengers and crew. Three ferries docking in Padangbai also sailed close the Gelis Rauh, helping the rescue.
"All passengers and crew survived," Basarnas Denpasar head Didi Hamzar said.
The evacuation process was completed before 2 a.m. on Friday morning. Several passengers had to be treated in Karangasem Hospital and Manggis community health center for cuts and bruises. Several others experienced chills as they were in the sea for hours, awaiting the evacuation team.
As of Friday afternoon, fire could still seen on the ferry, which was stranded in the seaweed cultivation area in Nusa Lembongan.
"We have reminded all people, including the fishermen, to stay away from the ship as the fire is still there," Didi said.
Didi said the cause of the incident was not yet known.
"The investigation will be conducted by a team from the National Transportation Safety Committee [KNKT]," Didi said.
"I jumped overboard when the fire reached my truck," said passenger Ahmad Gazali.
The 37-year-old truck driver said he was sleeping in his truck when the incident occurred.
"I woke up after my truck window shattered. I thought someone had thrown something through it, but then I saw a fire at the front of my truck. I quickly got out and jumped into the ocean," Ahmad said.
The incident happened at around 9 p.m. on Thursday night. The ferry, called the KMP Gelis Rauh, burst into flames at sea around one hour after it had set sail from Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali to Lembar Port, Lombok. The incident occurred around seven miles from Padangbai Port, near Nusa Penida waters.
A joint team from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Denpasar, the police, and the Navy immediately launched a rescue operation of all passengers and crew. Three ferries docking in Padangbai also sailed close the Gelis Rauh, helping the rescue.
"All passengers and crew survived," Basarnas Denpasar head Didi Hamzar said.
The evacuation process was completed before 2 a.m. on Friday morning. Several passengers had to be treated in Karangasem Hospital and Manggis community health center for cuts and bruises. Several others experienced chills as they were in the sea for hours, awaiting the evacuation team.
As of Friday afternoon, fire could still seen on the ferry, which was stranded in the seaweed cultivation area in Nusa Lembongan.
"We have reminded all people, including the fishermen, to stay away from the ship as the fire is still there," Didi said.
Didi said the cause of the incident was not yet known.
"The investigation will be conducted by a team from the National Transportation Safety Committee [KNKT]," Didi said.