Tragic ferry in front of Bali: 29 missing and 6 dead!

Tragic ferry in front of Bali: 29 missing and 6 dead!

On July 4, 2025, a serious ferry accident occurred in the ocean near the Indonesian island of Bali. The ferry KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, who had 65 people - including 53 passengers and 12 crew members - sank on the way to Gilimanuk about 30 minutes after leaving Ketapang in Banyuwangi. An emergency signal was sent around 20 minutes after the start, but the ferry was already fully submerged, which significantly made the search for the missing person. So far, 29 people have been missing, while six victims, including a 3-year-old boy and his mother, have already been recovered, reported vienna.at.

The Indonesian search and rescue agency (Bazarnas) leads the ongoing search operations that are carried out daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Despite the use of 15 boats and a helicopter, the challenges due to violent winds and high waves were considerable. The weather conditions, with waves of up to 2.5 meters and strong currents, also made the search difficult. Fischer and many people on land also support the efforts to obtain vital information.

Current status of the rescue campaigns

The search focuses on the northern part of the shipping road, while many of the recovered victims were found in the southern area. Witnesses reported that the ferry could not be contacted over radio before sinking. Many survivors are medically treated in the Jembrana Regional Hospital in Bali and in the port office in Gilimanuk; Many were passed out after they had to drive in troubled waters for hours. The relatives are desperately waiting for news about the missing, and the Indonesian authorities have already initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident. Survivors reported a leak in the engine room of the ferry, which could have led to the catastrophe, according to the report by cnn.com.

The accident has caused great concern, and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that, according to the current status, no Austrians are affected. The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya not only transported passengers on the day of the accident, but also 22 vehicles, including 14 large trucks. The ferry was usually rarely used by holidaymakers, which is due to the prevailing security concerns in Indonesian ferry traffic.

background and security situation in Indonesia

ferry gaps are common in Indonesia, an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands. Safety regulations are often neglected. A total of 26 large ships were lost in 2023, with 41 losses in 2022. The region of South China, Indochina, Indonesia and the Philippines recorded the most ship losses with a total of 8 in the same year. According to the Allianz Commercial, in the "Safety & Shipping Review 2024", the improvements in maritime security have developed significantly in the past ten years In areas with difficult weather conditions and inadequate security protocols, according to the statement of iii.org.