At least 4 dead, 38 missing after Indonesian ferry with 65 onboard sinks near Bali

At least four people died after a ferry with 65 persons and over 20 vehicles onboard capsized near Bali in Indonesia during the late hours of Wednesday. Rescuers have saved 23 people, and a search is underway for the remaining 38.

According to rescue authorities, the ferry, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, sank in rough seas overnight while it was en route to Bali. The ferry, bound for a 50-kilometre trip, sank almost half an hour after leaving East Java's Ketapang port for Bali's Gilimanuk port late Wednesday, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. The ferry had 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, onboard, it said.

According to authorities, many of those rescued were initially unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, according to Banyuwangi police chief Rama Samtama Putra.

According to authorities, strong currents and winds are hampering the rescue operation. Officials said nine boats, including two tug boats and two inflatable boats, have been deployed for the search operation. Rescuers are battling waves up to 2 metres (6.5 feet) high in the overnight darkness.

While the deceased are yet to be identified, according to reports, there were no foreign nationals onboard the ferry. Ferries are a common mode of transportation in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. 15 people were killed in 2023 after a small ferry capsized near Indonesia's Sulawesi island.