What should’ve been a routine ferry ride between Java and Bali turned into a nightmare on Wednesday night.
A passenger ferry carrying 65 people — or possibly more — sank near Bali, killing at least six and leaving dozens unaccounted for.
The ferry, en route from Banyuwangi to Bali, went under just before midnight.
Only 31 people have been rescued so far, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency.
But with discrepancies in the passenger manifest, families are left in anguish, unsure whether their loved ones were even officially listed onboard.
What Happened?
One survivor, Imron, described the harrowing moment the ferry tilted three times before flipping over.
“By the third time, sea water had already entered the passenger cabin,” he recalled.
Another, Bejo Santoso, managed to leap into the sea just in time. “Three minutes later, it was gone.”
President Prabowo Subianto, currently in Saudi Arabia, has called for an immediate emergency response.
Sadly, such disasters are all too common in Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
Lax safety enforcement often turns everyday travel into deadly risk.
As rescue efforts continue, one question hangs heavy: How many more lives will it take before safety is taken seriously at sea?
