Disaster

KMP Batu Mandi Catches Fire in Merak Waters, 89 Passengers Safe

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 20, 2026•3 min read

Passenger ferry KMP Batu Mandi caught fire off Merak on Tuesday afternoon. All 89 pedestrians and crew were safely evacuated with no casualties reported.

Key Facts

KMP Batu Mandi terbakar di perairan sekitar Pulau Merak Besar, Kota Cilegon, Banten, Selasa (20/10/2026) sore, saat kapal dalam proses alun sandar menuju Dermaga VI Pelabuhan Merak.
Kapal bertolak dari Pelabuhan Bakauheni, Lampung, sekitar pukul 14.52 WIB; sekitar pukul 16.15 WIB petugas darat melihat percikan api di bagian buritan, tepatnya pada dek atas yang digunakan untuk mengangkut kendaraan kecil.
Sebanyak 89 penumpang pejalan kaki dilaporkan berada di kapal; seluruh penumpang beserta awak kapal berhasil dievakuasi dan tidak ada korban jiwa menurut informasi awal.
PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) mengonfirmasi insiden melalui keterangan resmi; Corporate Secretary Windy Andale menegaskan keselamatan penumpang dan awak kapal menjadi prioritas utama perusahaan.
Petugas gabungan dari unsur pelabuhan, Basarnas, kepolisian, BPBD, dan Ditpolairud Polda Banten dikerahkan ke lokasi; penyebab kebakaran masih dalam penyelidikan.
Sejumlah penumpang dievakuasi secara darurat dengan turun menggunakan tali dari sisi kapal di tengah kepulan asap hitam yang membubung tinggi dari badan kapal.

Fire Breaks Out as Ferry Prepares to Dock

The passenger ferry KMP (Kapal Motor Penumpang / Passenger Motor Vessel) Batu Mandi caught fire in waters near Merak Besar Island, Cilegon City, Banten, on Tuesday (20/10/2026) afternoon. The incident occurred while the vessel, serving the Bakauheni–Merak crossing route, was maneuvering to dock at Pier VI of Merak Port.

In an official statement, state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP (Angkutan Sungai, Danau, dan Penyeberangan / River, Lake, and Ferry Transport) Indonesia Ferry (Persero) stated that KMP Batu Mandi departed from Bakauheni Port, Lampung, at around 14:52 WIB (Western Indonesia Time). At approximately 16:15 WIB, onshore officers spotted sparks on the vessel's stern, specifically on the upper deck utilized for transporting small vehicles.

89 Passengers Evacuated with No Casualties Reported

A total of 89 pedestrian passengers were reportedly on board. All passengers and crew members were successfully evacuated, and initial reports indicate zero fatalities from the incident.

Dozens of vehicles were estimated to be aboard the ship, though the exact figures for vehicles, drivers/vehicle crews, and total passengers remain subject to verification.

Circulating visuals showed thick black smoke billowing high into the air from the vessel's hull. Several passengers were reportedly evacuated in an emergency manner by rappelling down ropes along the side of the ship to safety.

Joint Responders Deployed as Investigation Begins

Responding to the incident, a joint team from port authorities, Basarnas (Badan Nasional Pencarian dan Pertolongan / National Search and Rescue Agency), the police, BPBD (Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah / Regional Disaster Management Agency), and Ditpolairud (Direktorat Polisi Perairan dan Udara / Directorate of Marine and Air Police) of Polda Banten (Banten Regional Police) was immediately dispatched to the scene for containment and evacuation efforts.

Head of Public Relations at Banten Regional Police, Kombes Pol (Komisaris Besar Polisi / Police Grand Commissioner) Maruli Ahiles Hutapea, said evacuation efforts were underway while personnel were recording passenger data and investigating the cause of the fire. 'As of now, the tally of affected individuals as well as the cause of the fire remain under verification and further investigation,' he said.

ASDP Corporate Secretary Windy Andale emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is the company's highest priority. ASDP stated it will cooperate with authorities during inspections and provide periodic updates as developments emerge.

Busiest Route Connecting Java and Sumatra

The Merak–Bakauheni crossing route serves as the primary artery connecting the islands of Java and Sumatra, transporting thousands of passengers and vehicles every day. The ship fire along this bustling maritime corridor has drawn significant attention due to its potential to disrupt ferry traffic.

As of this report, response and containment efforts remain underway. Authorities have urged the public to await verified updates from official sources and refrain from circulating unconfirmed information.