A ferry with dozens of passengers and vehicles overturned and went down in waters near the famous tourist spot of Bali in Indonesia, reported local emergency officials Thursday.
The ferry contained 53 passengers and 12 crew members, along with 22 vehicles, as per the Surabaya search and rescue agency situated in Java, Indonesia.
The rescue agency divulged that at least four people had been saved.
The Associated Press cited Banyuwangi police stating that two individuals had perished and 43 were missing. The AFP reported 61 people missing, as confirmed by the Surabaya search and rescue agency.
(h2) Overview of the incident:
The vessel, named the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, went under around 23:20 local time (15:20 UTC/GMT).
It took off from East Java’s Ketapang Port nearing 11 p.m. local time on Wednesday, and about 20 minutes later, it sent out a distress signal, stated Wahyu Setiabudi, the coordinator of the Banyuwangi rescue post in Java island.
The ferry was bound for Bali’s Gilimanuk Port, a 50-kilometer (30-mile) expedition.
Rescue team members were sent to the last recorded location of the vessel, but their work was impeded by the tempestuous sea and bad climate, Wahyu informed.
Local media documented the boat issuing a mayday due to engine failure.
(h2) Maritime accidents in Indonesia – A common occurrence:
Ferries serve as a prevalent method of transport in Indonesia, a sizable archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands.
In Indonesia, where safety measures are negligently enforced, maritime accidents are frequent.
A boat carrying 16 individuals capsized close to Bali in March, claiming the life of an Australian woman and injuring another person.
In 2018, more than 150 individuals drowned when a ferry went down in Lake Toba located on Sumatra island.
(Edited by: Sean Sinico)
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/indonesia-dozens-missing-after-boat-sinks-near-bali/a-73135052?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
