West Lombok. A passenger aboard the KMP Putri Yasmin said a fire that engulfed the ferry in the Lombok Strait on Wednesday appeared to have started in an enclosed cargo vehicle being transported on the vessel, as authorities reported one death and said 173 people had been evacuated.

Yulius, one of the survivors, said he first saw flames coming from the vehicle before the fire rapidly grew and spread to other parts of the ferry. The vessel's engine subsequently shut down, leaving it unable to continue its journey.

"The flames grew very high, and then the ship's engine died," Yulius said after being rescued and arriving at Lembar Port in West Lombok.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, meaning Yulius' account has not been independently established as the source of the blaze.

Yulius said conditions aboard the ferry became increasingly frightening as the flames spread. He and his wife eventually put on life jackets and jumped into the sea.

He estimated that the fire broke out between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. After abandoning the ferry, Yulius and other passengers remained afloat using life jackets, while some held onto a large flotation device as they waited for rescuers.

Yulius said he and his wife held hands to prevent themselves from being separated by the waves.

"About four hours we were floating in the sea before being rescued," he said, adding that rescuers reached them at around 8 a.m.

A preliminary report said one passenger was found dead in the incident.

I Gusti Lanang Wiswananda, spokesman for the Mataram Search and Rescue Office, said 173 people had been evacuated from the Putri Yasmin and that the vessel had been completely cleared of people by Wednesday afternoon.

The latest figure differs from an earlier report that 144 people were aboard the ferry. Authorities have not immediately explained the discrepancy between the initial passenger count and the 173 people subsequently reported evacuated.

The rescue operation involved several vessels operating in the busy waters, including the Mataram SAR 220 rescue vessel, the Portlink II ferry, KAL Lembar, a police vessel and two private yachts.

The Putri Yasmin was traveling from Padangbai in Bali to Lembar in West Nusa Tenggara when it caught fire in the Lombok Strait early Wednesday.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to establish what caused the blaze.

Add as a preferred source on Google +