**A ferry carrying 65 people capsized off the coast of Bali, leading to at least five fatalities and numerous individuals still unaccounted for as the search and rescue operations continue.**
**Five Confirmed Dead, Many Missing as Ferry Sinks Near Bali**
**Five Confirmed Dead, Many Missing as Ferry Sinks Near Bali**
**Tragic incident raises safety concerns in Indonesia's maritime transport**
At least five individuals have perished and many others are missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of Bali, Indonesia. The ferry was en route from Banyuwangi on Java island to Bali, carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members when disaster struck at around 23:20 local time (15:35 GMT) on Wednesday, according to reports from the National Search and Rescue Agency in Surabaya.
So far, 31 people have been rescued, with search efforts ongoing. Authorities are probing the incident's cause, with preliminary reports indicating that engine troubles were reported shortly before the ferry sank, while local media has blamed "bad weather."
Survivors mostly hail from Banyuwangi and neighboring regions. One survivor, Imron, recalled the ferry capsizing quickly after listing sharply on three occasions. "By the third time, the water was already flooding the passenger cabin," he described, emphasizing the swift nature of the sinking. Imron swam to safety after finding a gap and drifting into the ocean before encountering rescuers.
Another survivor, Bejo Santoso, managed to leap off the ferry just in time to grab a life jacket. "About three minutes after the ship began to roll, it flipped over. I was lucky enough to jump," he recounted to local news.
In response to the tragedy, President Prabowo Subianto, who is currently in Saudi Arabia on official business, has mandated an immediate emergency response. The maritime route is heavily trafficked, regularly utilized by locals traveling between Java and Bali.
Images from Antara news agency depicted ambulances stationed on the roadside, with many family members anxiously awaiting updates about their loved ones. Indonesia's maritime safety records are concerning, with frequent marine accidents attributed to inconsistent enforcement of safety standards. Just months earlier, an Australian woman tragically died when another vessel capsized off Bali.
