A ferry carrying 65 people sank off the coast of Bali late Wednesday, resulting in at least four fatalities and leaving 31 others missing. Rough weather and high waves delayed early rescue efforts, complicating the search for survivors and the recovery of bodies. The vessel, the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, departed from East Java and sank shortly after, reportedly amid rough sea conditions with waves up to 2.5 meters in height.
Rescue teams have saved 31 people and recovered four bodies so far. Many of the survivors were found unconscious after drifting in the water for hours, according to media reports. The search for the remaining 30 continues, with nine boats and local fishermen assisting in the efforts. According to Surabaya rescue agency, four of the survivors managed to escape using the ferry’s lifeboat and were found in the water early on Thursday.
Nanang Sigit, the agency’s head, told local media earlier that 38 people were missing. He noted that poor weather conditions initially made it difficult to reach the sunken vessel. ‘The ferry could not be contacted via radio from the beginning. Then it could be contacted by other ships from the same company. But the ship was already in a tilting condition,’ AP quoted Sigit as saying.
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, has ordered an emergency response to the disaster. The rescue agency has deployed additional personnel and equipment to aid in the search operations. The ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks. The route between Ketapang and Gilimanuk is one of Indonesia’s busiest, frequently used by locals and freight operators.
Ferry accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where the boats are a common means of transport and safety regulations can lapse.