Tragedy Strikes as Ferry Sinks Near Bali

Four people have tragically lost their lives, 30 individuals remain missing, and 31 survivors have been rescued after a ferry carrying 65 passengers sank near the Indonesian island of Bali. The incident occurred when the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry capsized almost half an hour after departing from East Java province’s Banyuwangi port en route to Bali late on Wednesday night.

The ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles at the time of the accident. Despite the valiant efforts of search and rescue teams, the rough sea conditions have made locating the missing individuals challenging. The agency has deployed a helicopter and 13 underwater rescuers to aid in the search operation.

Video footage released by the national rescue agency Basarnas captured the retrieval of one victim’s body from a fishing boat in calm seas. While the nationalities of the passengers have not been officially disclosed, a manifest list from news channel MetroTV suggests that there were no foreigners on board.

Indonesia’s extensive archipelago relies heavily on ferries as a primary mode of transportation, but lax safety standards often contribute to accidents. Overloading and inadequate life-saving equipment are common issues that plague the maritime industry in the region. In a similar tragedy in 2023, a small ferry incident near Sulawesi island claimed the lives of at least 15 individuals.

Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. As the search continues for the missing passengers, we hope for a swift and safe recovery operation.

(Source: Reuters – Reporting by Stanley Widianto in Jakarta and Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)