At least five individuals have been confirmed dead, and many are unaccounted for after a ferry sank off the coast of Bali, Indonesia. The vessel, which was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, went down around 23:20 local time (15:35 GMT) while en route from Banyuwangi, East Java, to Bali. According to the National Search and Rescue Agency in Surabaya, 31 survivors have been rescued as efforts to locate the missing continue.
The cause of the sinking is under investigation; reports indicate that the ferry's operator had warned of engine malfunction prior to the incident, while local media attribute the tragedy to adverse weather conditions. Survivors hail primarily from Banyuwangi and surrounding areas.
One survivor, Imron, detailed a swift capsizing, stating the ferry tilted sharply before water entered the cabin. He managed to escape through a gap and found a life jacket, ultimately being rescued by a passing fisherman. Another survivor, Bejo Santoso, reported that he had jumped overboard just minutes before the ferry overturned, allowing him to grab a life vest in time.
President Prabowo Subianto has called for an urgent emergency response while he is on an official trip to Saudi Arabia. The ferry was operating on a well-trafficked route between Java and Bali, frequented by locals.
As emergency services positioned ambulances and locals awaited updates, the incident has sparked renewed discussions on Indonesia's maritime safety regulations, given the frequent occurrence of marine accidents in the vast archipelago of around 17,000 islands. In a similar incident earlier this year, an Australian woman lost her life when a small boat capsized near Bali. Rescue efforts are ongoing in the Bali Strait as authorities strive to reach all those affected by this tragedy.
The cause of the sinking is under investigation; reports indicate that the ferry's operator had warned of engine malfunction prior to the incident, while local media attribute the tragedy to adverse weather conditions. Survivors hail primarily from Banyuwangi and surrounding areas.
One survivor, Imron, detailed a swift capsizing, stating the ferry tilted sharply before water entered the cabin. He managed to escape through a gap and found a life jacket, ultimately being rescued by a passing fisherman. Another survivor, Bejo Santoso, reported that he had jumped overboard just minutes before the ferry overturned, allowing him to grab a life vest in time.
President Prabowo Subianto has called for an urgent emergency response while he is on an official trip to Saudi Arabia. The ferry was operating on a well-trafficked route between Java and Bali, frequented by locals.
As emergency services positioned ambulances and locals awaited updates, the incident has sparked renewed discussions on Indonesia's maritime safety regulations, given the frequent occurrence of marine accidents in the vast archipelago of around 17,000 islands. In a similar incident earlier this year, an Australian woman lost her life when a small boat capsized near Bali. Rescue efforts are ongoing in the Bali Strait as authorities strive to reach all those affected by this tragedy.
