At least six people, including a three-year-old boy, have been confirmed dead and 30 others remain missing after a ferry sank in rough seas while en route to the Indonesian resort island of Bali late Wednesday night.
The ferry, carrying 65 passengers and crew, sank just before midnight as it crossed from Ketapang Port in Java to Gilimanuk Port in Bali, one of Indonesia’s busiest ferry routes. Rough seas and high waves are believed to have caused the vessel to capsize, according to officials.
Rescue authorities have so far recovered 29 survivors from the water. Survivors described a harrowing scene. “The ferry tilted and immediately sank,” said Eka Toniansyah, who was rescued and treated at a Bali hospital. “Most of the passengers were Indonesian. I was with my father. My father is dead.”
The national search and rescue agency confirmed that all available equipment, including rescue boats and helicopters, had been deployed in the operation. A team of 54 personnel has been combing the waters, supported by inflatables and a larger vessel from Surabaya.
Rescue efforts were initially hampered by 2.5-meter-high waves, strong currents, and fierce winds, but weather conditions have since improved. A Surabaya rescue officer said the search would be paused Thursday night and resume on Friday morning.
President Prabowo Subianto, currently on an official trip to Saudi Arabia, ordered an immediate emergency response, with Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirming that bad weather was the likely cause of the disaster.
Authorities are still verifying the actual number of passengers, as discrepancies between ferry manifests and real figures are common in Indonesia. The ferry was also transporting 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.
Marine accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of around 17,000 islands, where lax safety standards and unpredictable weather frequently lead to maritime tragedies. In recent years, similar disasters have claimed dozens of lives, raising concerns over enforcement of safety protocols.
The search and rescue agency said it would expand its operations and follow ocean currents in hopes of locating more survivors in the coming days.
Written By Rodney Mbua
