A ferry carrying 65 people sank off the coast of Indonesia’s resort island of Bali late Wednesday, leaving at least 43 people missing as search and rescue operations continued through the night and into Thursday morning.
The vessel, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, sank roughly 30 minutes after departing from Ketapang port in East Java. It was en route to Bali’s Gilimanuk port, a journey of just 50 kilometers. Onboard were 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.
Authorities confirmed that two bodies have been recovered, while 20 people have been rescued so far. Several survivors were found unconscious, having drifted in rough seas for hours before being pulled to safety.
Nine boats—including two tugboats and inflatable vessels—have been deployed in the ongoing search, facing turbulent conditions with waves as high as two meters.
Maritime disasters like this are not uncommon in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands where ferries are heavily relied on for transportation but often operate under poor safety standards and oversight.
The cause of the sinking remains under investigation. Rescue efforts continue as families await word on their missing loved ones.