Search Ongoing After Ferry Sinks Near Bali, Leaving 4 Dead and 30 Missing

Ferry Sinks with 65 Aboard

Rescue teams in Indonesia continued searching Thursday for 30 missing passengers after a ferry sank late Wednesday night near the resort island of Bali, leaving at least four confirmed dead.

The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, which departed from Ketapang port in East Java’s Banyuwangi town, was en route to Gilimanuk port in Bali when it sank roughly 30 minutes into its journey. The vessel was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members. So far, 31 people have been rescued, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Nine boats, including two tugboats and two inflatable rescue crafts, were deployed in the operation alongside a helicopter, local fishermen, and volunteers. Initial rescue efforts were hindered by strong waves reaching up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) and poor visibility during the night. Improved weather and calmer sea conditions on Thursday aided search efforts.

Rescuers carry a victim in a body bag after a ferry capsized off Indonesia’s Bali

Surabaya Search and Rescue Chief Nanang Sigit stated that Thursday’s operations focused on the waters between the accident site and Gilimanuk port, where victims had previously been recovered. He added that contact with the ferry was lost shortly after departure, and another ship from the same company later managed to reach the crew via radio when the vessel was already heavily tilted.

Many survivors were found unconscious after drifting for hours in rough waters. Witnesses and rescued passengers reported that the ship experienced a leak in its engine room before capsizing. The ferry was transporting 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.

A passenger's relative weeps after a ferry carrying dozens of people sank near the resort island of Bali

Survivors were taken to nearby medical facilities, including Bali’s Jembrana Regional Hospital. One survivor, Supardi, 64, recounted the terrifying moment the ferry began to sink. “I intended to jump into the sea, but the ship sank quickly, pulling me down about 7 meters. I managed to reach the surface and cling to the top,” he said. Supardi and three others survived by holding onto life jackets in open water.

Distressed family members gathered at the port Thursday, many in tears, desperately seeking updates about their missing relatives.

Indonesian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the disaster. Maritime incidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, where ferries serve as a major mode of transportation despite frequent concerns about maintenance and safety oversight.