Denpasar. All 144 people aboard a ferry traveling from Bali to Lombok were rescued after the vessel caught fire in the Lombok Strait early Wednesday, triggering an emergency response involving search-and-rescue teams and a passing ferry.

The incident involving the KMP Putri Yasmin was the second ferry fire reported in Indonesia in the past two weeks.

Local authorities said the ferry caught fire at around 4:20 a.m. while traveling from Padangbai, Bali, to Lembar, West Nusa Tenggara. The vessel was approaching Lembar and had entered the Lombok Strait when the fire broke out.

The search-and-rescue office received a report of the fire about 30 minutes later and deployed the rescue vessel Arjuna from Padangbai Port and a rigid inflatable boat from Nusa Penida to assist with the evacuation.

The rescue operation was also assisted by the KMP Port Link II, another ferry that happened to be passing near the scene.

Juni Arta, a passenger aboard the Port Link II, which had departed Lembar early Wednesday, said its crew spotted the Putri Yasmin on fire while crossing the waters between Lombok and Bali.

The Port Link II then approached the burning ferry to help evacuate those on board.

Videos circulating after the incident showed passengers aboard the Putri Yasmin wearing life jackets and preparing to leave the vessel.

Authorities have yet to announce the suspected cause of the fire.

Earlier this month, a ferry carrying around 250 people also caught fire off the northern coast of Madura Island, East Java, with at least five passengers confirmed dead.

The survivors of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa were rescued by several vessels that happened to be near the scene and joined the emergency response alongside official rescue teams.

Add as a preferred source on Google +