420 Survivors: How Indonesian Fishermen Averted Ferry Fire Disaster
Spontaneous rescue by local fishing vessels prevented fatalities.
A fire on the Indonesian ferry KMP Batumandi at Merak port yesterday could have ended in tragedy, but swift action by local fishermen ensured all 420 passengers survived. The vessel, arriving from Bakauheni, Lampung, erupted in flames at around 1600 hours, forcing passengers to flee using ropes, rails, or by jumping overboard.
Smoke billowed from the stern of the KMP Batumandi as it entered the channel at Merak port, followed by a small explosion. With no time to locate life jackets, many leapt into the water, where dozens of fishing vessels, some with capacities of just 10 to 14 people, raced to their aid.
“One boat can carry 10 to 14 people, depending on capacity. Some passengers are taken directly to the pier,” said Eka, a fisherman involved in the rescue. “Some of the others were relayed to large ships that had docked near the location so that the fishing boats could quickly return to pick up the remaining passengers.”
“One boat can carry 10 to 14 people, depending on capacity. Some passengers are taken directly to the pier. Some of the others were relayed to large ships that had docked near the location so that the fishing boats could quickly return to pick up the remaining passengers.”
Eka·Fisherman
Three remain in intensive care, but the outcome stands in stark contrast to recent ferry disasters in the region.
Southeast Asia’s Ferry Safety Crisis
The KMP Batumandi fire is the latest in a string of maritime incidents plaguing Southeast Asia. On September 9, the Philippine ferry June Aster caught fire off Palawan, killing 77 of its 128 passengers, likely due to toxic fumes from a chemical cargo. Just four days later, the Indonesian ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea during bad weather, claiming 80 lives and leaving 55 missing, many trapped inside the wreck.
The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is now investigating the KMP Batumandi fire, with initial reports suggesting it may have started on an upper deck used for stowing smaller vehicles.
Operated by ASDP Indonesia Ferry, the KMP Batumandi was fully extinguished after the flames consumed the wheelhouse. While the cause remains under investigation, the incident underscores the critical role of local communities in averting larger disasters.
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