At least four people have died and dozens remain missing after a ferry sank off the coast of Indonesia’s popular tourist island of Bali on Wednesday night, authorities have confirmed.
The ill-fated vessel was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members when it went down at approximately 23:20 local time (15:35 GMT), while en route from Banyuwangi in East Java to Gilimanuk in Bali. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in Surabaya reported that 31 survivors have so far been rescued, and a search operation involving multiple rescue teams is ongoing to locate the missing.
Initial reports suggest that the ferry operator had experienced engine trouble shortly before the sinking. Local officials also cited “bad weather” as a possible contributing factor, highlighting concerns about maritime safety during Indonesia’s unpredictable monsoon season.
President Prabowo Subianto, who is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, has ordered an immediate emergency response to assist in the search and recovery efforts. Photos published by local media outlet Antara show ambulances on standby and concerned residents gathered along the coast awaiting news of their loved ones.
The passenger list released by authorities indicates that many onboard were residents of Banyuwangi, a coastal town that often serves as a gateway to Bali. Others came from inland areas of Java, using the ferry as part of a regular inter-island transit route.
The Java-Bali ferry route is among the busiest in the country, widely used by locals and tourists alike. However, marine accidents are a frequent occurrence in Indonesia, a nation of over 17,000 islands, where lapses in safety standards and inadequate enforcement remain persistent issues.
In a tragic reminder of these vulnerabilities, a similar incident occurred in March when an Australian woman died after a boat carrying 16 people capsized off Bali.
As rescue efforts continue, families of the missing are holding on to hope while the nation grapples with yet another maritime disaster in its vast archipelago. Authorities have vowed to investigate the cause of the sinking thoroughly and enhance maritime safety to prevent future tragedies.
