Indonesia launches major search for 30 missing passengers after ferry sinks

Indonesian rescuers have resumed their search for 30 people still missing after a ferry sank near Bali, more than 35 hours after the tragedy, officials have confirmed.

The ferry, named KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, was carrying 65 passengers—all Indonesian nationals—when it went down approximately 30 minutes after departing East Java on July 3, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The vessel was en route to Bali’s holiday island.

At least six people have been confirmed dead, while 29 survivors were rescued. The search was temporarily halted overnight due to poor visibility but recommenced on July 4 despite challenging conditions, including strong currents and rain.

One relative of a missing passenger, Dayu Made Silawati, spoke from a rescue centre in Bali. Her husband, Dewa Gede Adyana Putra Usia, was on board the ferry to collect supplies for his job as a truck driver.

“The last time I spoke to him was Wednesday night. He said, ‘I just got on the ship,’ and I told him to be careful,” she said. Attempts to reach him by phone early on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Search efforts in the Bali Strait involve ships, helicopters, and hundreds of personnel battling difficult weather and sea conditions.

Authorities have stated the ferry was not overloaded at the time of sinking. A formal investigation into the cause of the disaster will begin once rescue operations conclude.

Ferries remain a vital means of transport across Indonesia’s more than 17,000 islands, but safety concerns persist. Overcrowding and inadequate life-saving equipment are common problems, despite regulations aimed at protecting passengers.

By Aghakazim Guliyev