A ferry with 53 passengers and 12 crew members capsized late on July 2 between Java and Bali after severe damages were caused to the engine. The accident caused six dead passengers, with dozens still missing in the search and rescue operation in the choppy seas.
/*Disaster: Vessel and Route*/
The hapless ferry KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya had sailed out of Ketapang port in the district of Banyuwangi, East Java, headed towards Gilimanuk in Bali; on a journey of about five kilometers. About 23:20 Wednesday local time, the ferry left radio messages of engine trouble and leakage in the engine room and sank about 25-30 minutes into the trip. The area is infamous for unexpected hostile weather conditions and forceful currents, which probably further escalated the crisis.
/*Saving Lives in Progress*/
Back to the Bali Strait, the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) sent a fleet of up to 15 boats and a helicopter, assisted by local fishermen, to search the area. By Thursday afternoon, rescue teams had pulled out 31 people alive; unfortunately, six corpses had been retrieved, with 29 others missing. The head of Surabaya SAR, Nanang Sigit, confirmed that survivors were found unconscious in 2 2.5m waves. Banyuwangi Police Chief Rama Samtama Putra said the ferry had 65 passengers aboard and it was ferrying 22 vehicles, 14 trucks included
/*Background and Safety Issues*/
Ferry disasters are also very common in the maritime network in Indonesia, consisting of more than 17,000 islands. It is usually caused by chronic problems like ineffective safety enforcement, overcrowding, and unsafe weather. Over 150 individuals lost their lives in a sinking ferry in Sumatra in 2018. In May this year, two people lost their lives because the ferry KMP Muchlisa sank off Balikpapan Bay. Still, as much as the government tries, there is no uniformity in enforcing capacity restrictions and adherence to standards of maintenance.
/*Our Future Action*/
The Transport Ministry and safety monitors in Indonesia are looking at equipment failure, passenger overload, and weather warnings. The official manifest is being checked by police, where unlisted passengers are reported. At the same time, families cry at ports in Ketapang and Gilimanuk, awaiting feedback from relatives.