Indonesian rescuers have resumed the search for 30 passengers still missing after a ferry sank near Bali, more than 35 hours after the tragedy occurred. The ferry, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, was carrying 65 Indonesians when it sank shortly after leaving East Java.
On Thursday, rescuers pulled 29 survivors from the water before suspending the search due to poor visibility. The rescue agency had to call off operations temporarily but resumed efforts on Friday despite strong currents and rain in the Bali Strait.
Family members anxiously wait for news at rescue centers. One woman, Dayu Made Silawati, said her husband was on the ferry heading to Bali for work. She last spoke to him on Wednesday night but could not reach him afterward.
Rescue teams are using ships, helicopters, and hundreds of personnel to scour the area. Officials say the ferry was not overloaded, but the exact cause of the sinking will be investigated once the search ends.
Ferries are a common transportation method in Indonesia, which has over 17,000 islands. However, lax safety standards often result in overcrowded vessels and insufficient life-saving equipment, raising concerns about passenger safety.
Authorities remain focused on finding the missing passengers and preventing future accidents. Meanwhile, transportation safety investigators prepare to examine the circumstances behind the sinking as families hope for positive news.