4 dead, 38 missing as ship sinks in Indonesia; rescue operations underway

Jakarta: Four people have been confirmed dead, 38 are missing, and 23 others survived after a passenger ship sank in the Bali Strait of Indonesia early on Thursday, according to Tholeb Vatelehan, a senior official from the East Java Search and Rescue Office.

The wooden vessel, KM Tunu Pratama Jaya, was en route from Ketapang seaport in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, to Gilimanuk seaport in Jembrana Regency on Bali Island when it sank, the official said.

"As many as 23 people survived the incident, four were dead, and 38 others remained missing," Vatelehan told the Xinhua news agency via phone.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to take immediate action to rescue the passengers and crew of the inter-island ferry.

Teddy Indra Wijaya, cabinet secretary, stated that the president issued the directive directly from Saudi Arabia, where he is performing the Umrah pilgrimage and carrying out an official visit.

"From the Holy Land, he immediately instructed Basarnas and related agencies to initiate an emergency response and rescue the passengers and crew as quickly as possible," Teddy said on Thursday.

The president emphasised that the top priority in the emergency operation must be the rescue of victims, Teddy added.

Rescue operations have been launched from both Bali Island and East Java since the incident occurred near the maritime boundary between the two areas.

I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Bali Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the coordination between teams.

The Banyuwangi Search and Rescue Office has dispatched over 20 personnel, a rigid inflatable boat, and an additional vessel to aid the operation, Vatelehan said.

"Strong winds, large waves, and powerful currents are currently hampering the rescue efforts," he added.

(inputs from IANS)