When The Sea Took Them: Indonesia’s Ferry Tragedy Unfolds

At least five people have died and dozens remain missing after a ferry carrying 65 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Bali, Indonesia, in the latest maritime tragedy to strike the sprawling archipelago.

The vessel, identified as KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, sank shortly after setting sail from the port of Banyuwangi in East Java on the evening of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS).

Rescue operations have been ongoing since the early hours of Thursday.

Authorities confirmed that 35 people have been rescued so far, some of whom were found drifting for hours in open water.

A multi-agency effort involving 15 vessels and a rescue helicopter is scouring the area, with hopes of locating survivors before nightfall.

Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue team, said the vessel is now completely submerged beneath the sea’s surface.

“There is a possibility that some passengers are still trapped inside the sunken ferry,” he stated. “But for now, we are prioritizing the search on the surface.”

As daylight broke, weather and sea conditions began to improve, providing some much-needed support for the rescue teams.

But time is critical, and concerns are growing about the fate of those still unaccounted for.

Banyuwangi police chief Rama Samtama Putra noted that many of the rescued were found unconscious, exhausted after spending hours adrift in the ocean.

“Several survivors were in critical condition upon rescue,” he said, describing the chaotic and desperate scenes that unfolded during the night.

Back on land, anguish gripped the Banyuwangi port terminal, where distressed families waited for news. Some cried openly, fearing the worst but clinging to hope that their loved ones might be among the rescued.

President Prabowo Subianto, currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, has ordered an immediate emergency response.

A statement from Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed that the president is closely monitoring the situation.

Initial reports suggest that the ferry may have encountered rough seas due to bad weather shortly after departure, leading to the deadly incident.

Indonesia, a nation made up of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferry transport for inter-island travel.

But the country also has a troubling history of maritime disasters, often linked to poor safety oversight, vessel overloading, and inadequate life-saving equipment.

Just this March, a boat capsized in rough waters off the coast of Bali, resulting in the death of an Australian woman and injuries to several others.

The incident raised concerns about passenger safety and weather preparedness—issues now back in the spotlight following this latest tragedy.

In one of the deadliest incidents in recent memory, more than 150 people died in 2018 when a ferry sank in Lake Toba, one of the world’s deepest volcanic lakes located on Sumatra island.

Many of the victims in that disaster were never recovered, prompting widespread calls for improved maritime safety regulations—calls that many say have gone unanswered.

As search efforts continue near Bali, authorities have promised a full investigation into the cause of the accident.

However, the immediate focus remains on finding those still missing and providing support to survivors and grieving families.

With rescue teams racing against time and families anxiously awaiting news, the ferry disaster underscores the ongoing risks faced by travelers in Indonesia’s vast but often perilous waterways, where faith in the journey remains high, but safety far too often falls short.

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