5 dead, 29 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali
This handout photo taken and released on July 3, 2025 by Indonesias National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows a rescue team moving a victim's body brought to shore earlier by local fishermen after a ferry sank on its way to the resort island of Bali, in Banyuwangi, East Java. At least four people were dead and dozens unaccounted for on July 3 after a ferry sank on its way to the resort island of Bali, according to local authorities who said 23 survivors had been plucked from the water so far. (Photo by Handout / INDONESIAS NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY (BASARNAS) / AFP)
At least five people were dead and dozens unaccounted for Thursday after a ferry sank in rough seas on its way to Indonesian resort island Bali, according to rescue authorities who said 31 survivors had been plucked from the water so far.
Rescuers were racing to find 29 people still missing at sea after the vessel carrying 65 passengers and crew sank before midnight on Wednesday, as it sailed to the popular holiday destination from Indonesia's main island Java.
'The ferry tilted and immediately sank,' survivor Eka Toniansyah told reporters at a Bali hospital.
'Most of the passengers were from Indonesia. I was with my father. My father is dead.'
Java-based Surabaya search and rescue agency head Nanang Sigit told AFP that a fifth victim was found dead on Thursday afternoon.
'Thirty-one victims were found safe, five died, 29 people are still being searched for,' Nanang said.
ALSO READ: Dozens arrested for Indonesian love scam ring targeting American men
President Prabowo Subianto, who was on a trip to Saudi Arabia, ordered an immediate emergency response, cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said, adding the cause of the accident was 'bad weather'.
Nanang said earlier Thursday efforts to reach the doomed vessel were initially hampered by adverse weather conditions.
Waves as high as 2.5 metres (8 feet) with 'strong winds and strong currents' had affected the rescue operation, he said, adding conditions have since improved.
A rescue team of at least 54 personnel was dispatched along with inflatable rescue boats, he said, while a bigger vessel was later sent from Surabaya city.
Indonesia's national search and rescue agency chief Mohammad Syafii told a news conference that the agency sent a helicopter to help the effort.
Frequent accidents
Nanang said rescuers would follow currents and expand the search area if there were still people unaccounted for by the end of the day.
ALSO READ: Bali bombmaker apologises to angry survivors, families
'For today's search, we are still focusing on search above the water where initial victims were found,' the Surabaya search and rescue chief said.
The ferry's manifest showed 53 passengers and 12 crew members, he said, but rescuers were still assessing if there were more people onboard.
It is common in Indonesia for the actual number of passengers on a boat to differ from the manifest.
It was unclear if any foreigners were on board.
The ferry crossing from Ketapang port in Java to Bali's Gilimanuk port is one of the busiest in the country and takes around one hour.
It is often used by people crossing between the islands by car.
ALSO READ: Bali to deport Russian couple for nude photos on sacred tree
Four of the known survivors saved themselves by using the ferry's lifeboat and were found in the water early Thursday, the Surabaya rescue agency said.
It said the ferry was also transporting 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.
Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, in part due to lax safety standards and sometimes due to bad weather.
In March, a boat carrying 16 people capsized in rough waters off Bali, killing an Australian woman and injuring at least one other person.
A ferry carrying more than 800 people in 2022 ran aground in shallow waters off East Nusa Tenggara province, where it remained stuck for two days before being dislodged with no one hurt.
And in 2018, more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in one of the world's deepest lakes on Sumatra island.
NOW READ: Bali to deport man for dancing naked at sacred mountain
– By: © Agence France-Presse
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
15 hours ago
- eNCA
Hundreds evacuated as Greece wildfire rages on Crete
A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of residents and tourists, officials said on Thursday. Hot dry weather in Greece, which is not unusual for this time of year, has heightened the risk of a repeat of the summer wildfires that have hit the country in recent years. Media reports said around 1,500 people had to be evacuated because of the blaze, which broke out on Wednesday evening. AFP | Costas Metaxakis "Evacuations took place in numerous hotels and tourists were safely transferred to a closed gymnasium in the municipality of Ierapetra," vice-prefect Yannis Androulakis told TV channel Mega, referring to the holiday town in the southeast. The authorities acted because water bomber planes could not reach the affected areas overnight, he added. "At the moment, there are three active fronts," Androulakis said. "Because of the strong winds, the fire has progressed quite rapidly." Around 270 firefighters, 10 helicopters and drones have been deployed to tackle the blaze, said Vassilios Vathrakoyannis, a spokesman for the fire service. They include reinforcements sent in from the capital, Athens. "There are still a number of different fronts. The fire is burning scrubland and crops," he said. "The winds are very strong -- up to nine on the Beaufort scale." - Uneven, arid terrain - Crete, Greece's largest island, has an arid, uneven landscape criss-crossed by gullies, making it difficult for firefighters to tackle the blaze. The fire damaged houses and crops in fruit and vegetable greenhouses, media reports said. AFP | Costas Metaxakis Like the rest of Crete, Ierapetra -- a seaside resort with a population of 23,000 - takes in thousands of tourists in the summer. Vathrakoyannis said the authorities would assess the damage once the fire had been brought under control. The risk of fires was "considerable" in July, the hottest month of the year in Greece, he added. Greece has largely escaped a heatwave that has gripped other parts of southern Europe. The country recorded its hottest-ever summer last year when 45,000 hectares of land was burned, according to WWF Greece and the Athens National Observatory. In terms of surface area destroyed, 2023 was the worst on record. Nearly 175,000 hectares were obliterated and 20 people died during heatwaves when temperatures rose in places to 46 degrees Celsius.
IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
Baboon bandit: how an unexpected hotel visitor turned a dream trip into comedy gold
Illustration image. A baboon's cheeky antics have gone viral after it ransacked a couple at a Zambian hotel.. Image: Unsplash It's not every day a couple gets mugged in their hotel room by an unexpected visitor. But that's precisely what happened to American travellers, @heierman, while staying in Livingstone, situated on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. What they thought would be a peaceful retreat turned into a comical showdown with a crafty baboon determined to raid their room. Sharing the entire encounter on TikTok, the couple introduced social media to their unusual assailant, who boldly opened the sliding door of their accommodation, which they had carelessly left unlocked. "You fly 8 000 miles to Zambia/Zimbabwe for a dream trip and get mugged by a baboon. In your hotel room," the couple laughed as they recounted their peculiar event. The footage, now viral with over 250 000 views, shows the baboon rummaging through their belongings with little regard for the couple's astonishment. Tea, coffee, and sugar sachets from the hotel's hospitality kit were swiftly snatched, and it didn't stop there. The furry bandit rummaged through their cosmetic bags and luggage, making himself utterly at home. Fortunately, the encounter was friendly - there were no injuries or hostilities involved. The Heiermans recounted that this was not a singular occurrence; the same baboon made several return visits over the subsequent days, suggesting that their room had become a playful target. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading This whimsical tale struck a chord with netizens, who took to the comments section to share their own similar experiences or simply poke fun at the couple's unique misfortune. @Rhoslynne chimed in: "Wow, last time I was there, they ransacked the room and took stuff from the coffee station, but I thought we might have left the door open." @Ms P👊🏽 added: "They would never harm you as long as you stay out of their business of robbing you! 😂 Also, do lock the door next time." @Michael noted the baboon's nonchalance: "The way he's just shopping around as he casually eats his fruity snacks and acts as if you don't even exist. 🤣🫣" @user1590340131115 enthusiastically remarked: "It was an amazing trip though, right?!! We did South Africa and Zimbabwe/Zambia for Victoria Falls/Devil's Pool. Beautiful!" For those unfamiliar, Livingstone serves as a gateway to the breathtaking Victoria Falls, offering various adventure activities alongside exquisite wildlife viewing opportunities. With its distinctive atmosphere, the area attracts countless visitors eager to explore the natural wonders of both Zambia and Zimbabwe. For the Heierman couple, their unforgettable tale with the uninvited baboon is sure to be a lasting memory of their travels, adding a humorous twist to their dream holiday. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected encounters lead to the most cherished stories.
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- The Citizen
5 dead, 29 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali
Rescuers search for 29 people still missing after ferry carrying 65 passengers sank near Bali during severe weather. This handout photo taken and released on July 3, 2025 by Indonesias National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows a rescue team moving a victim's body brought to shore earlier by local fishermen after a ferry sank on its way to the resort island of Bali, in Banyuwangi, East Java. At least four people were dead and dozens unaccounted for on July 3 after a ferry sank on its way to the resort island of Bali, according to local authorities who said 23 survivors had been plucked from the water so far. (Photo by Handout / INDONESIAS NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY (BASARNAS) / AFP) At least five people were dead and dozens unaccounted for Thursday after a ferry sank in rough seas on its way to Indonesian resort island Bali, according to rescue authorities who said 31 survivors had been plucked from the water so far. Rescuers were racing to find 29 people still missing at sea after the vessel carrying 65 passengers and crew sank before midnight on Wednesday, as it sailed to the popular holiday destination from Indonesia's main island Java. 'The ferry tilted and immediately sank,' survivor Eka Toniansyah told reporters at a Bali hospital. 'Most of the passengers were from Indonesia. I was with my father. My father is dead.' Java-based Surabaya search and rescue agency head Nanang Sigit told AFP that a fifth victim was found dead on Thursday afternoon. 'Thirty-one victims were found safe, five died, 29 people are still being searched for,' Nanang said. ALSO READ: Dozens arrested for Indonesian love scam ring targeting American men President Prabowo Subianto, who was on a trip to Saudi Arabia, ordered an immediate emergency response, cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said, adding the cause of the accident was 'bad weather'. Nanang said earlier Thursday efforts to reach the doomed vessel were initially hampered by adverse weather conditions. Waves as high as 2.5 metres (8 feet) with 'strong winds and strong currents' had affected the rescue operation, he said, adding conditions have since improved. A rescue team of at least 54 personnel was dispatched along with inflatable rescue boats, he said, while a bigger vessel was later sent from Surabaya city. Indonesia's national search and rescue agency chief Mohammad Syafii told a news conference that the agency sent a helicopter to help the effort. Frequent accidents Nanang said rescuers would follow currents and expand the search area if there were still people unaccounted for by the end of the day. ALSO READ: Bali bombmaker apologises to angry survivors, families 'For today's search, we are still focusing on search above the water where initial victims were found,' the Surabaya search and rescue chief said. The ferry's manifest showed 53 passengers and 12 crew members, he said, but rescuers were still assessing if there were more people onboard. It is common in Indonesia for the actual number of passengers on a boat to differ from the manifest. It was unclear if any foreigners were on board. The ferry crossing from Ketapang port in Java to Bali's Gilimanuk port is one of the busiest in the country and takes around one hour. It is often used by people crossing between the islands by car. ALSO READ: Bali to deport Russian couple for nude photos on sacred tree Four of the known survivors saved themselves by using the ferry's lifeboat and were found in the water early Thursday, the Surabaya rescue agency said. It said the ferry was also transporting 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks. Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, in part due to lax safety standards and sometimes due to bad weather. In March, a boat carrying 16 people capsized in rough waters off Bali, killing an Australian woman and injuring at least one other person. A ferry carrying more than 800 people in 2022 ran aground in shallow waters off East Nusa Tenggara province, where it remained stuck for two days before being dislodged with no one hurt. And in 2018, more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in one of the world's deepest lakes on Sumatra island. NOW READ: Bali to deport man for dancing naked at sacred mountain – By: © Agence France-Presse
