Ferry sinks near Bali in a devastating incident that left at least four people dead and 30 others missing as the vessel went down in rough seas late Wednesday night. According to Indonesia’s national rescue authorities, 31 survivors have been pulled from the water so far, as search operations continue across the Bali Strait between Java and Bali.
The ferry, which was transporting 65 passengers and crew, sank before midnight as it sailed from Ketapang Port in Java’s Banyuwangi Regency to Gilimanuk Port in Bali—one of the busiest crossings in the country. The ferry route, a critical link between Java and Bali, usually takes about one hour.
Survivors Recall Horror as Ferry Sinks Near Bali
Survivor Eka Toniansyah, who was among the 31 rescued, recounted the terrifying moment. Speaking from a hospital in Bali, he said, “The ferry tilted and immediately sank. Most of the passengers were from Indonesia. I was with my father. My father is dead.”
The emotional weight of the tragedy was visible in early survivor testimonies, as rescue teams raced against time to locate the 30 people still missing.
President Orders Emergency Response After Ferry Sinks Near Bali
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, who was on a diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia, issued an emergency order directing a full-scale search and rescue mission. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the cause of the disaster was attributed to bad weather, including rough seas and strong currents.
National Search and Rescue Agency Chief Mohammad Syafii confirmed that four people had died and that the search would continue with air and sea assistance. “A helicopter has been deployed. Thirty people are still being searched for,” Syafii added during a press conference.
Weather Hampers Rescue Efforts as Ferry Sinks Near Bali
Nanang Sigit, the head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency, said earlier that the operation faced initial setbacks due to 2.5-meter-high waves and strong winds. However, conditions have slightly improved, allowing more intensive search operations.
At least 54 personnel, including navy and police officials, are involved in the ongoing rescue mission. The team is using inflatable rescue boats and has also dispatched a larger vessel from Surabaya to support the mission.
Manifest Discrepancies Raise Concerns
As the ferry sinks near Bali, authorities are investigating discrepancies in the passenger manifest. Official records show 53 passengers and 12 crew members, but it is not uncommon in Indonesia for actual passenger counts to differ from listed manifests.
Rescue operations will expand the search radius and follow sea currents if more people remain missing by the end of the day, officials confirmed.
Ferry Sinks Near Bali: 22 Vehicles Including Trucks Were Onboard
The ferry sinks near Bali tragedy involved not just passengers but also 22 vehicles, including 14 large trucks. According to rescue teams, some survivors managed to escape using the ferry’s lifeboats. The ferry sinks near Bali incident raised serious concerns about safety protocols for transporting cargo and passengers together. As the ferry sinks near Bali, investigations are underway to determine whether the heavy load contributed to the vessel’s instability in rough seas.
Indonesia’s Long Record of Maritime Accidents
That a ferry sinks near Bali is tragically not a rare occurrence in Indonesia. The Southeast Asian nation, composed of more than 17,000 islands, regularly experiences maritime accidents—often due to poor safety protocols, overloaded vessels, and adverse weather conditions.
In March 2025, a boat carrying 16 people capsized off Bali, killing one Australian tourist. In 2018, more than 150 people drowned in Lake Toba on Sumatra Island when a ferry sank. And in 2022, a ferry with over 800 passengers ran aground off East Nusa Tenggara Province but was fortunately freed without casualties.
The tragedy in which a ferry sinks near Bali, leaving 4 dead and 30 missing, underscores the urgent need for stricter safety regulations and better preparedness for sea travel in Indonesia. As rescue operations continue with full force, the nation watches anxiously for news of more survivors amid improving weather conditions.
Authorities remain hopeful that those still missing will be found soon. However, the grim reminder of Indonesia’s maritime vulnerability has once again surfaced, prompting calls for reform and enhanced sea safety measures.
Thailand Travel Alert: COVID-19 Cases Cross 4.76 Lakh in 2025 — Should You Rethink Your Plans?
[…] Ferry Sinks Near Bali: 4 Dead, 30 Missing After Vessel Capsizes in Rough Seas En Route from Java […]