Death toll rises to 15 in Bali Strait ferry sinking, 20 still missing
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Güneşli
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Güneşli
The death toll from the tragic sinking of a passenger ferry in Indonesia’s Bali Strait has climbed to 15, as search and rescue operations continue for 20 individuals still missing, officials said on Thursday.
According to Novita Nirmala, a senior official with the East Java Search and Rescue Office, two more bodies were recovered early Thursday, following one found on Wednesday evening. The vessel, identified as KM Tunu Pratama Jaya, went down in the waters between Java and Bali shortly before midnight on July 2.
The wooden ferry had been en route from Ketapang seaport in Banyuwangi regency, East Java, to Gilimanuk seaport in Jembrana regency, Bali Island, carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles. Shortly after the incident, Indonesian authorities launched a large-scale, joint search and rescue (SAR) operation from both East Java and Bali, coordinated by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
Efforts to locate survivors and retrieve victims have been severely hampered by extreme weather. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported waves reaching up to 2.5 meters and reduced visibility, sometimes dropping from 10 kilometers to just three. Strong winds have also complicated aerial and marine rescue operations.
In response to the disaster, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued an urgent directive for immediate rescue operations. The announcement came while President Prabowo was in Saudi Arabia performing the Umrah pilgrimage and attending official meetings. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed that the order was made directly from abroad.
The Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Authorities are focusing on whether the ferry complied with proper departure procedures, its seaworthiness, documentation status, and the adequacy of the emergency response when the vessel began to sink.
The BMKG has since issued warnings for continued extreme weather in the region, urging all maritime operators to exercise caution.
Rescue teams remain on high alert as the search continues for the remaining missing passengers in one of Indonesia’s most deadly ferry disasters in recent years. (ILKHA)
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