Ferry Catches Fire Near Merak Port, All Aboard Evacuated

A passenger ferry caught fire on Tuesday afternoon as it approached Merak Port in Banten province, Indonesia, sending thick black smoke over the vessel and prompting passengers and crew to evacuate. Authorities confirmed everyone aboard was rescued safely. The fire broke out on KMP Batumandi, operated by state-owned ASDP Indonesia Ferry, as it neared the busy Merak-Bakauheni crossing linking Java and Sumatra. The incident was first reported at approximately 4:15 p.m., about two hours after the ferry departed Bakauheni Port in Lampung. Passengers described panic as smoke rose from the lower vehicle deck, with some scrambling for life jackets and lifeboats while others jumped into the sea. Nearby vessels assisted with the evacuation, and the Banten Port Authority confirmed by 4:56 p.m. that all passengers and crew had been transferred to another ferry, KMP Royce 1. Firefighters were still battling the blaze as of 9 p.m., with the cause yet to be confirmed, though an initial report suggested the fire may have started in the engine room. The Merak-Bakauheni route across the Sunda Strait is among Indonesia's busiest maritime corridors, carrying more than 20 million passengers and 5 million vehicles annually. The incident adds to a string of serious ferry accidents in Indonesia over the past five months, including fatal fires and sinkings involving KMP Virgo Transport 8, KMP Putri Yasmin, KMP Mutiara Sentosa II and the motor vessel Nurul Salsa, which together have left dozens dead or missing.