Four Dead, Dozens Missing After Ferry Sinks Off Bali

A tragic maritime incident has occurred off the coast of Indonesia’s popular tourist island of Bali, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and leaving dozens more missing. The ferry, which was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, sank at 23:20 local time on Wednesday while en route to Bali from Banyuwangi on the eastern coast of Java island.

According to the National Search and Rescue Agency, 29 survivors have been rescued, and a search operation is currently underway to locate those still missing. Authorities are investigating the cause of the sinking, with the ferry operator reporting engine trouble shortly before the incident.

The vessel’s route is one of Indonesia’s busiest, often used by locals traveling between the islands of Java and Bali. Many of the survivors are residents of the coastal town of Banyuwangi, while others came from more inland areas of Java.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered an immediate emergency response, despite being on an official visit to Saudi Arabia. “We will do everything possible to rescue those missing and support the families of the victims,” he said.

The incident highlights the ongoing concerns about maritime safety in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of around 17,000 islands. Uneven enforcement of safety regulations is a longstanding issue, and marine accidents are frequent in the country.

In recent years, Indonesia has experienced several notable maritime incidents, including the sinking of a ferry in 2018 that resulted in the loss of over 150 lives. The government has pledged to improve safety measures and enforcement, but more work needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

As the search operation continues, relatives of those missing are anxiously waiting for updates, and the local community is in shock. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing maritime safety and taking measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.