Ferry Sinking Headed to Bali Claims 4 Lives and 38 Missing in Indonesia
Arab & International

Ferry Sinking Headed to Bali Claims 4 Lives and 38 Missing in Indonesia

SadaNews - At least four people have died, and 38 others are still missing after a ferry sank while heading to the tourist island of Bali in Indonesia, authorities announced on Thursday.

 

Rama Samtama Putra, the police chief of Banyuwangi city in East Java, told AFP that as of Thursday morning, the toll stood at 23 people rescued and four confirmed dead, while rescue teams continued their efforts to locate the missing.

The Surabaya search and rescue agency stated that the incident occurred on Wednesday night around 23:20 local time when the ferry carrying 65 people (53 passengers and 12 crew members) was en route from Java Island to Bali.

The agency added that four of the survivors managed to save themselves using the ferry's lifeboat, and they were found on Thursday morning in the waters. The ferry was also carrying 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.

Rescue teams noted that the actual number of passengers has not yet been confirmed, as the actual number often exceeds the officially recorded figure on such journeys.

For his part, the Secretary of the Cabinet announced that President Prabowo Subianto, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, ordered the immediate activation of an emergency plan, confirming that bad weather was the cause of the incident.

Rescue teams rushed to the disaster site using rubber boats before sending a larger ship from Surabaya to participate in the rescue efforts, while it remains unclear whether there were any foreigners among the passengers.