At least four people have died and dozens remain missing after a ferry carrying 65 individuals sank in rough seas off the coast of Bali late Wednesday night. The vessel, identified as the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, went down approximately 30 minutes after departing from Ketapang port in East Java, bound for Gilimanuk port in Bali.
The ferry was reportedly carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, along with 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS). As of Thursday, search and rescue operations have managed to pull 23 survivors from the water, many of whom were found unconscious after hours adrift in the challenging maritime conditions. The remaining individuals are the focus of an intense, ongoing search.
Eyewitness accounts from survivors describe a sudden listing of the vessel before it rapidly submerged. While the exact cause of the capsizing is still under investigation, preliminary reports from authorities, including Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, suggest that “bad weather” played a significant role. Rescue efforts have been hampered by waves reaching up to two meters (approximately 6.5 feet) and strong winds and currents, though conditions were reported to be improving on Thursday morning.
Distraught family members have converged on Ketapang port, desperately seeking information about their loved ones as rescue teams, comprising at least 54 personnel from the navy and police, continue their perilous work. Nine boats, including tugboats and inflatable vessels, have been deployed, with a larger vessel dispatched from Surabaya to assist.
This tragic incident highlights the persistent challenges in maritime safety across Indonesia, an archipelago nation heavily reliant on ferry transport. Accidents are unfortunately common due to a combination of factors, including often lax safety standards, overcrowding, and inadequate life-saving equipment. Indonesia has a history of severe maritime disasters, with notable incidents including a 2018 ferry sinking in Lake Toba, Sumatra, which claimed over 150 lives, and a boat capsizing off Bali earlier this year in March that resulted in the death of an Australian woman.
Authorities have not yet confirmed if any foreign nationals were among those on board the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya. Investigations into the sinking are ongoing, including an assessment of whether the actual number of people on the ferry exceeded its manifest, a common issue in Indonesian maritime transport.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, currently on a trip to Saudi Arabia, has ordered an immediate emergency response to the disaster, underscoring the severity of the situation and the national concern for those still missing. The nation watches anxiously as rescue teams continue their tireless efforts against the unforgiving elements.