Search Underway For Dozens Missing After Ferry Sinks Near Bali

 

Rescue teams in Indonesia are racing against time to locate 30 people still missing after a ferry sank late Wednesday night near the resort island of Bali, claiming the lives of at least four individuals.

According to the National Search and Rescue Agency, 31 of the 65 people on board—53 passengers and 12 crew members—have been rescued as of Thursday afternoon.

The ferry, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, went down about 30 minutes after departing Ketapang port in East Java’s Banyuwangi for a 50-kilometer journey to Gilimanuk port in Bali. A helicopter and nine vessels, including tug and inflatable boats, have been deployed in the ongoing search, aided by local fishermen and shoreline volunteers.

Rough waves up to two meters high and darkness made overnight rescue efforts difficult, but improved weather and calmer seas on Thursday have helped operations.

“Today we’re focusing the search at sea, especially between the site of the accident and Gilimanuk port, where the initial victims were found,” said Nanang Sigit, head of Surabaya’s Search and Rescue office.

The ferry’s radio communication was reportedly unresponsive from the start of its journey. It was eventually contacted by another vessel from the same company, by which point it was already listing and close to capsizing.

Many of the rescued passengers were found unconscious after spending hours adrift in turbulent waters, according to Banyuwangi Police Chief Rama Samtama Putra.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, though survivors reported a possible leak in the ferry’s engine room. The vessel was also transporting 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, at the time of the accident.

Distressed relatives gathered at the port Thursday, some in tears, desperate for updates on missing loved ones. Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals, including Jembrana Regional Hospital in Bali, for treatment.

Supardi, a 64-year-old survivor, recounted his harrowing experience from his hospital bed. “When the ferry began tilting, I was about to jump, but it sank too fast. I went under with it, maybe about 7 meters deep, and climbed back up,” he said. He managed to stay afloat by grouping with three others and using life jackets.

Ferry accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are widely used and safety enforcement can be inconsistent.