GILIMANUK, Bali — Bali ferry sinking has left thirty people missing after the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya tragically capsized in the Bali Strait late Wednesday night, July 2, 2025. The vessel, which departed from Ketapang, East Java, en route to Gilimanuk Port in Bali, sank just 30 minutes into its journey.

Authorities confirmed that the ferry carried 65 people—53 passengers and 12 crew—along with 22 vehicles, mostly trucks. As of Thursday evening, 29 people were rescued alive, while six were found dead. The remaining 30 are still unaccounted for.

Search and rescue efforts resumed Friday morning involving over 160 personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), police, and the military. “We are ready to deploy divers to scour the sea if needed and if the weather is fine,” said Ribut Eko Suyatno, Basarnas’ deputy chief of operations.

The operation includes three helicopters, one thermal drone, and more than 20 rescue boats and local fishing vessels. Conditions remain challenging, with waves reaching over 2 meters and visibility often poor.

Survivors were transported to Jembrana Regional Hospital in Bali for treatment. Meanwhile, grieving relatives have gathered at the Gilimanuk Port office, anxiously awaiting updates.

Initial accounts suggest the ferry may have suffered an engine room leak. However, high waves and strong currents are also suspected to have played a major role. One survivor, Bejo Santoso, told Metro TV that the ferry tilted suddenly after being struck by repeated waves, causing vehicles to shift violently to one side.

“It all happened so fast. The ship rolled left and sank in less than five minutes,” Bejo recalled. “There were life jackets onboard, but only those on the outer deck could reach them.”

Bejo floated in the open sea for more than six hours, using a life jacket as a floatation device. He described how one companion died from exhaustion and panic while waiting for rescue.

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, has a long history of maritime disasters, often due to poor safety enforcement. In 2021, a ferry also sank near Bali, killing seven and leaving 11 missing. In 2018, 167 died when a ferry sank in Lake Toba.

As of Friday evening, the search continues under deteriorating weather conditions. The cause of the Bali ferry sinking is under investigation, with engine failure and weather both being considered.