Fri Jul 04 07:10:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A ferry sank off the coast of East Java, Indonesia, en route to Bali, leaving 32 people missing. As of Thursday, four bodies have been recovered and 29 people have been rescued. The search continues, aided by improving weather conditions. The ferry, carrying passengers, crew, and vehicles, sank shortly after departing from Ketapang port. The incident is a grim reminder of the prevalence of ferry accidents in Indonesia due to its geography and potential lapses in safety regulations.

**News Article:**

**Search Continues for 32 Missing After Ferry Sinks Off Bali Coast; Four Bodies Recovered**

**JAKARTA, Indonesia** – Rescue efforts are underway in the waters off East Java, Indonesia, following the sinking of a ferry bound for the resort island of Bali late Wednesday. As of Thursday, rescuers have recovered four bodies and saved 29 people, but 32 remain missing.

The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank approximately 30 minutes after departing from Ketapang port in Banyuwangi, East Java, heading towards Gilimanuk port in Bali, a journey of roughly 50 kilometers. The ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.

According to the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), family members gathered at the departure port, anxiously seeking news of their loved ones. Nine boats, including tug boats and inflatable vessels, along with local fishermen and coastal residents, are participating in the search.

Initial search efforts were hampered by strong waves and darkness, but a BASARNAS official reported improved weather and sea conditions on Thursday, bolstering the ongoing rescue operation.

“For today’s search we are focusing on searching on the water, as the initial victims were found in the water between the location of the accident toward Gilimanuk port,” said Nanang Sigit, head of Surabaya Search and Rescue agency.

Many of the rescued passengers were found unconscious after spending hours adrift in rough seas, according to Banyuwangi police chief Rama Samtama Putra.

The incident highlights the persistent problem of ferry accidents in Indonesia, a vast archipelago where ferries are a common mode of transportation. Concerns remain regarding the enforcement of safety regulations. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the sinking.

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