JAKARTA, Aug 14 — The search for five people believed to be still missing following a fire aboard passenger ferry KMP Putri Yasmin in Indonesia’s Lombok Strait entered its third day today, with authorities widening search efforts and deploying three Search and Rescue Units (SRUs).
The Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) Office said the three SRUs were conducting sea and aerial searches, with rescue vessels KN SAR 220 Mataram and KAL Lembar deployed in the waters, while a Finns SGi Air Bali helicopter conducted aerial surveillance.
“Entering the third day of the KMP Putri Yasmin SAR operation, we are deploying our resources to the fullest with three SRUs conducting sea-surface searches and aerial monitoring,” it said in a social media post.
In an update at 6pm local time yesterday, the office said five people remained unaccounted for, with searches by ground, sea, and air teams yielding no results for the day.
A total of 212 people had been evacuated since the fire broke out aboard KMP Putri Yasmin early on Wednesday (August 12), comprising 211 survivors and one fatality.
The passenger ferry was sailing through the Lombok Strait from Bali towards neighbouring Lombok when the fire broke out.
