KMP Batumandi fire approaching Merak: passengers and crew evacuated

Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation said on 21 October 2026 that KMP Batumandi, bound from Bakauheni to Merak, caught fire in the Merak crossing approach channel at Cilegon, Banten, on Tuesday afternoon, 20 October. The ministry said every passenger and crew member had been evacuated safely.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi, speaking at Merak on Tuesday, said the government was concerned and was coordinating the firefighting and the securing of the ship with the other agencies involved. He said every passenger and crew member had been evacuated safely. The release says the ship left Bakauheni at 14.32 WIB. Vessel Traffic Service Merak logged the incident at about 16.15 WIB, while the ship was in the approach channel. The minister said the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) and the police are still investigating the cause, and he asked people not to speculate about the cause or about who was responsible.

The release names TB Gunung Cipala, TB Avatar Harbour, TB Teluk Jakarta, TB Tirtayasa V, TB Gunung Batur, TB Gunung Santri, KNP 333, KMP Royce 1, KMP Munic 3, KMP SMS Mulawarman, and customs boat BC 9006. Port staff, Basarnas and the police also took part.

ANTARA's report of ASDP's confirmation, published at 17.33 WIB on Tuesday, says the ship left Bakauheni at about 14.52 WIB and that shore staff saw sparks at about 16.15 WIB at the stern, on the upper deck used for small vehicles. Corporate secretary Windy Andale said every passenger and crew member had been evacuated. Yogie Nugraha, head of KSOP Kelas I Banten, said in a statement carried by ANTARA that evening that there was no report of deaths, and that at 16.56 WIB KMP Royce 1 reported to VTS Merak that every passenger and crew member from KMP Batumandi had been evacuated onto that ship.

On Wednesday morning, Banten police spokesman Maruli Hutapea told detikNews that the manifest listed 420 passengers and 89 vehicles, with 393 of the passengers in vehicles and 27 on foot, and that interim information from ASDP was that nobody had died. Xinhua, citing the Banten Search and Rescue Agency on Tuesday night, reported that 460 people had been evacuated, 420 passengers and 40 crew, and that 11 people were taken to a local hospital in Cilegon. ASDP president director Heru Widodo told Kompas.com at Merak on Tuesday that six people had been hurt, one of them in shock, with shortness of breath and light injuries, and that they had been treated and sent home. Governor Andra Soni told detikNews on Wednesday morning that 16 people had received medical treatment, 11 at Puskesmas Pulomerak and five at RS Krakatau Medika.

ANTARA reported on Wednesday that the minister said there were no deaths. National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto said the water police would examine whether the cause was technical or non-technical, and that an intentional act had not been ruled out.