Thu Jul 03 01:21:18 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Ferry Sinks Off Bali: Search for 43 Missing**
**Bali, Indonesia** – A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway off the coast of Bali after a ferry sank in rough seas late Wednesday night. The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, carrying 65 people and 22 vehicles, went down approximately 30 minutes after departing from Ketapang port in East Java, en route to Gilimanuk port in Bali.
The National Search and Rescue Agency confirmed that 53 passengers and 12 crew members were aboard the vessel when it encountered difficulties. As of Thursday morning, two bodies have been recovered, and 20 individuals have been rescued, many found unconscious after drifting in the turbulent waters for hours.
“We are deploying all available resources to locate the missing,” said a spokesperson for the Search and Rescue Agency. Nine boats, including tug boats and inflatable vessels, are scouring the area, battling waves up to two meters high in the ongoing search.
According to Banyuwangi police chief, Rama Samtama Putra, the ferry was carrying a significant number of vehicles, including 14 trucks. The cause of the sinking is currently under investigation.
Ferry accidents are unfortunately common in Indonesia, a vast archipelago where ferries serve as a crucial mode of transportation. Concerns about lax safety regulations have often been raised in the past.
The search for the remaining 43 missing individuals continues. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the National Search and Rescue Agency.
First Piper 