Six Dead, 30 Missing Following Ferry Capsizing Near Bali, Indonesia
On July 4, hundreds of Indonesian rescuers expanded their search operations for numerous individuals reported missing after a ferry sank in turbulent waters while en route to the resort island of Bali, resulting in at least six fatalities.
The vessel, which was carrying over 65 individuals—both passengers and crew—was undertaking a five-kilometer (3.2-mile) journey from eastern Java to Bali when it began to tilt and ultimately sank due to adverse weather conditions late on July 2, according to eyewitnesses and officials.
By the morning of July 4, authorities confirmed that 30 individuals were still unaccounted for after 29 had been rescued from the water.
Among the deceased was identified as a three-year-old boy
Rescue personnel mobilized various resources for conducting searches by both sea and air, broadening their operations along the coastlines of eastern Java and Bali. Ribut Eko Suyatno, an official from the national search and rescue agency, addressed reporters regarding these efforts: “We are instructing the land rescue unit to thoroughly search Ketapang beach from north to south. The same goes for Gilimanuk,” he stated.
The ferry’s route from Ketapang port in Java to Gilimanuk port in Bali is one of Indonesia’s busiest crossings, typically taking about one hour and frequently utilized by travelers transporting vehicles between the islands.
Local officials indicated that the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya vessel sank just 25 minutes into its voyage.
As part of the ongoing search operation on July 4, at least 306 rescuers were deployed, as reported by the Surabaya-based search and rescue agency.
Search efforts were briefly suspended overnight but resumed around 8:00 am (0000 GMT) on July 4 in Bali.
On July 3, rescuers utilized inflatable boats, a larger rescue craft, and a helicopter during their search efforts involving numerous personnel from both navy and police forces.
Adverse Weather Conditions
Four survivors managed to escape early on July 3 by climbing aboard one of the ferry’s lifeboats.
Initial rescue attempts faced challenges due to inclement weather characterized by waves reaching heights of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) along with strong winds.
Although the ferry’s manifest listed a total of 53 passengers alongside 12 crew members, discrepancies between recorded numbers and actual passenger counts are not uncommon in Indonesia.
Marine accidents are frequent occurrences within Indonesia—a Southeast Asian nation comprising approximately 17,000 islands—often attributed to inadequate safety regulations or adverse climatic conditions.
In March, another boat capsized off Bali while carrying sixteen people; this incident resulted in one Australian woman’s death and left at least one other injured.
Previously in 2018, over 150 individuals drowned when a ferry sank in one of Sumatra island’s deepest lakes.
