Passengers Jump Overboard as Fire Breaks Out on KMP Batumandi Near Merak Harbor
Passengers jumped from the ship into the sea as a fire broke out aboard the KMP Batumandi on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, forcing a chaotic emergency evacuation near Merak Harbor in Cilegon, Banten. The ferry was approaching its scheduled docking at Dermaga 6 after completing a crossing from Pelabuhan Bakauheni in Lampung when thick black smoke began billowing from the vessel’s stern around 4:15 p.m. local time, as detailed by Detik news and corroborating reports.
Emergency Evacuation and Medical Response at Executive Pier
Rescue operations coordinated by a joint team of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the maritime police, local fishermen, and port authorities successfully brought all passengers and crew ashore by 5:05 p.m., according to PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) and CNBC Indonesia. Evacuated passengers were immediately directed to the executive terminal waiting room at Pelabuhan Merak. Medical teams equipped with oxygen tanks and pharmaceuticals treated individuals suffering from shock, fainting spells, and sprains. One passenger sustained a hand injury requiring specialized medical care, Detik news reported.
Details of the Onboard Fire and Passenger Panic
Zulhaedi, a passenger aboard the burning ferry, recounted that panic gripped the vessel as smoke filled the decks, prompting mothers and infants to leap directly into the water. Survivors reported that local fishermen operating small boats in the waters around Merak were the first to respond, rushing alongside the burning ship to rescue individuals who had jumped overboard or sought independent escape routes, an account supported by Kumparan.com and SINDOnews Regional. Basarnas Banten deployed patrol boats, rubber dinghies, and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to assist with the water rescue.
Investigation Into the Cause and Ongoing Port Disruptions
Corporate Secretary PT ASDP Windy Andale stated that preliminary indications point to a spark originating from the upper vehicle deck at the stern of the ship around 4:15 p.m., though authorities are still investigating the exact root cause with Basarnas and the police (CNBC Indonesia and CNN Indonesia). While disaster management personnel and marine police units from Polda Banten secured the scene (SINDOnews Regional), port officials noted that ferry services at Pelabuhan Merak were awaiting certainty regarding the fire suppression while emergency crews worked to extinguish lingering hot spots and reconcile the passenger manifest against the actual survivors brought ashore (CNN Indonesia).
Frequently Asked Questions About the KMP Batumandi Fire
What time did the fire start on KMP Batumandi?
The fire broke out at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, as the vessel was preparing to dock at Dermaga 6 in Pelabuhan Merak, according to PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) and CNBC Indonesia.
Were there any fatalities reported during the incident?
No fatalities were reported. Corporate Secretary PT ASDP Windy Andale and Basarnas Banten confirmed that all passengers and crew members were successfully evacuated from the ship by 5:05 p.m., as reported by CNN Indonesia.
How were passengers rescued from the burning ferry?
Passengers were rescued through a joint effort involving local fishermen who rushed to the scene with small boats, alongside Basarnas patrol vessels, rubber boats, and rigid inflatable boats deployed by Basarnas Banten, according to Detik news and CNN Indonesia.
Operations at Pelabuhan Merak remain subject to ongoing safety verifications as transport authorities process passenger manifests.