BALI, Indonesia — At least four people died and 30 remain missing after a ferry sank off the coast of Bali on Wednesday night, Indonesian authorities said.
The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya went down about 30 minutes after leaving Ketapang port in Banyuwangi, East Java, bound for Bali’s Gilimanuk port — a 50-kilometer journey — with 53 passengers and 12 crew on board.
As of Thursday afternoon, rescuers had pulled 31 survivors from the sea. Many were found unconscious after drifting for hours in rough waters, police said.
Search operations resumed Thursday morning with improved weather, using a helicopter and nine boats, including tugboats and inflatable craft, assisted by fishermen and locals. Rescuers are focusing on the area between the accident site and Gilimanuk port, officials said.
The sinking was witnessed by a port officer, who said the ferry failed to respond to radio calls and was already listing heavily when other vessels made contact. Survivors reported a leak in the engine room before the vessel capsized.
The ferry was carrying 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, at the time of the accident.
Distraught families rushed to the port Thursday, seeking news of their missing relatives. Survivors were taken to nearby hospitals, including Jembrana Regional Hospital in Bali.
One survivor, 64-year-old Supardi, recalled sinking with the ship before surfacing and clinging to life jackets with three others to stay afloat.
Ferry accidents are frequent in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where lax safety standards and overloading are common. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the disaster.
