Denpasar, Bali, Aug. 12 -- Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas)-Bali Office has deployed an SGi Air Bali helicopter to help evacuate passengers from the KMP Putri Yasmin ferry after it caught fire in the Lombok Strait.

"SGi Air Bali's helicopter took off at 9:50 a.m. local time for the search area," Bali Basarnas Chief I Nyoman Sidakarya said in Denpasar on Wednesday.

Given the emergency and coordination between the Mataram and Denpasar search offices, the helicopter was deployed to provide wider aerial surveillance of the waters.

"It is mainly for aerial searches because the helicopter offers a wider view. Evacuation will still be handled by the nearest vessels," Sidakarya said.

Along with the helicopter and its s...