A ferry carrying 65 people sank off the coast of Indonesia’s Bali island, leaving at least four dead and 30 missing, officials confirmed on Thursday. Rescue teams are racing against time to locate the missing passengers amid rough seas and strong winds.
The vessel, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, departed from Banyuwangi port in East Java late Wednesday but sank just 30 minutes into its journey to Bali. According to Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency, the ferry had 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles onboard.
So far, 31 survivors have been rescued, but the search for the remaining passengers continues. Strong currents and unfavorable weather conditions are slowing rescue efforts. Authorities have deployed helicopters and 13 underwater divers to aid the operation.
Footage released by the national rescue agency, Basarnas, showed rescuers bringing a body ashore from a fishing boat. The sea appeared calm in the video, but officials say conditions in the deeper waters are far more dangerous and unpredictable.
While the nationalities of those onboard haven’t been officially confirmed, a manifest broadcast by MetroTV indicates all passengers were Indonesian. No foreigners were listed among those on the ferry.
Ferry accidents are frequent in Indonesia, where thousands rely on sea transport across its 17,000 islands. Poor safety standards, overcrowding, and lack of life-saving equipment often lead to deadly tragedies, with similar incidents reported as recently as 2023 near Sulawesi.