New York: In a heart-wrenching incident, at least four people were killed after a ferry sank off Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali at 11:20 p.m. local time (3:35 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday. According to rescuers, dozens are still missing. Meanwhile, news agency AP reported that the National Search and Rescue Agency said 31 people had been rescued as of Thursday afternoon, out of the ferry’s 53 passengers and 12 crew members.
The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya was en route to Bali’s Gilimanuk Port from Ketapang Port in the East Java town of Banyuwangi when it sank, according to the Surabaya office of the National Search and Rescue Agency.
The search for those remaining continues. Nine boats, including two tugboats and two inflatable boats, along with a helicopter, have been deployed to search for survivors, with support from fishermen and coastal residents.
“For today’s search, we are focusing on the water, as the initial victims were found in the sea between the accident site and Gilimanuk Port,” said Surabaya Search and Rescue head Nanang Sigit in a statement.
“The ferry could not be contacted via radio from the beginning. Then it was reached by other ships from the same company, but the vessel was already tilting,” Sigit added.
The ferry was also transporting 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.
The cause of the sinking has not been officially confirmed. However, reports suggest that the ferry operator had reported engine trouble shortly before the incident. Local media also quoted an official attributing the accident to bad weather.
A passenger list released by authorities shows that most of those onboard were residents of Banyuwangi, while others came from more inland parts of Java.
💔Horrible tragedy off the coast of Bali — a passenger ferry has sunk
There were 65 people on board. 23 were rescued, 4 died, and dozens are still missing.
The ferry’s route is commonly used by locals traveling between the islands of Java and Bali. pic.twitter.com/A9wSb1ZtlB
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 3, 2025
Meanwhile, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, has ordered an immediate emergency response.
The vessel’s route is considered one of Indonesia’s busiest ferry lines, frequently used by locals traveling between the islands of Java and Bali.
Photos published by Antara news agency show ambulances on standby and residents waiting anxiously by the roadside for updates.
In a powerful account, AP quoted Supardi, a 64-year-old survivor recovering in the hospital, who said:
“When the ferry started to tilt, I initially intended to jump into the sea, but the ship quickly sank. So I didn’t jump but sank along with the water entering the ship, maybe about 7 meters (23 feet) deep. I immediately climbed up to the top.”
Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of nearly 17,000 islands, frequently experiences marine accidents due to poor enforcement of safety standards and overcrowding.
In March, an Australian woman died after a boat carrying 16 people capsized off Bali.
