Indonesian President Orders Immediate Rescue After Ferry Disaster
In a swift response to a tragic maritime accident, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has directed the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to prioritize the rescue of passengers and crew from the sunken ferry, Tunu Pratama Jaya. The vessel sank in the Bali Strait amid severe weather conditions.
“The rescue of victims must be our top priority,” emphasized Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, conveying the president’s directives.
The inter-island ferry was en route from Ketapang Port on Java Island to Gilimanuk Port in Bali when it sank on Wednesday night. Onboard were 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and a dozen vehicles.
Joint search and rescue operations have been launched from both Bali Island and East Java, given the ferry’s sinking near the maritime boundary between the two regions. I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Bali Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the collaborative efforts.
As of now, the tragedy has resulted in four deaths, with 30 individuals still missing. “We have 31 survivors,” reported Nanang Sigit, head of the Search and Rescue Office in Surabaya, East Java.
Efforts continue as rescue teams battle challenging conditions to locate and save the missing passengers. The nation watches anxiously, hoping for more survivors to be found in the coming hours.
