Lombok, W. Nusa Tenggara. Search and rescue operation for passengers missing after the KMP Putri Yasmin ferry caught fire in the Lombok Strait officially ended on Wednesday, eight days after the incident.

The joint SAR team rescued 212 passengers during the operation, while one person was found dead and four others remain missing.

The operation was extended by one day before being formally called off on Wednesday. The Mataram Search and Rescue Office said it would continue monitoring the area for any signs of the four missing people and could reopen the search if new information emerges.

Mataram SAR Office Chief and SAR Mission Coordinator Muhamad Hariyadi said search efforts had been conducted as extensively as possible by air, sea, and land.

“For eight days, the joint SAR team made every possible effort from the air, sea and land. The search area was expanded to waters around Lombok, Bali and Java. However, as of Wednesday afternoon, the search had produced no results and the four victims remain missing,” Hariyadi said.

The search initially focused on the waters around the Lombok Strait before being expanded to areas around Bali and the southern coast of Java.

A Finns SGi Air Bali helicopter, an Indonesian Navy CASSA NC212-200 aircraft, and thermal drones were deployed from the air. The equipment was used to increase the chances of locating victims who may have been carried away by currents.

At sea, the operation involved SAR vessels, Indonesian Navy patrol boats, passenger vessels, yachts, rigid buoyant boats, and rigid inflatable boats. Search sectors were adjusted according to conditions and developments in the field.

Search teams also scoured coastlines on land, while fishermen and coastal communities were enlisted to report any objects or signs potentially linked to the missing passengers.

Information about the search was also circulated to passing vessels through the Vessel Traffic Service at Lembar port, expanding monitoring along the shipping route.

Search Could be Reopened

Despite the official closure, Hariyadi said authorities would continue coordinating with SAR partners and local fishermen to monitor possible developments.

“Under the regulations, we have officially closed the SAR operation. However, the closure does not mean monitoring has stopped,” he said.

He added that any new information indicating the possible location of the missing passengers could trigger the reopening of the search.

“If signs or new information regarding the victims' whereabouts are found in the future, the SAR operation will immediately be reopened,” Hariyadi said.

With the operation concluded Wednesday afternoon, all SAR personnel and assets were returned to their respective agencies and units.

The Mataram SAR Office thanked personnel from the military and police, government agencies, community groups, fishermen and other SAR organizations for supporting the eight-day search effort.

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