Jakarta, 4 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Search teams resumed operations at first light on Friday to locate victims of a ferry that sank in the Bali Strait, a busy but often hazardous waterway separating the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali. 

At least six people have been confirmed dead, and 29 others remain missing, according to authorities. Thirty people were rescued. 

The vessel, the Tunu Pratama Jaya, went down late Wednesday night during a routine crossing. It was carrying 65 people and several large freight trucks from Ketapang Port in East Java to Gilimanuk in Bali when it began taking on water under unclear circumstances. 

The sinking has raised renewed concerns about maritime safety in the world's largest archipelagic nation, where ferry accidents are common due to poor maintenance, overloading and unpredictable weather conditions.

Search and rescue teams are now racing against time and shifting sea conditions. The joint operation, led by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), will continue daily from 6 am to 7 pm for at least seven days, in accordance with national protocols, officials said. 

"The operation continues, and we hope, through everyone's prayers, that more victims may still be found alive," said Basarnas chief Muhammad Syafii.

The Bali Strait, though only about 2.4 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, is known for strong currents, sudden squalls and heavy shipping traffic.

Additional resources have been mobilized for the operation. Specialist rescue divers, helicopters and drones are assisting the effort. Local police precincts along the Banyuwangi coast are also coordinating with traditional fishermen to monitor currents and potential debris drift.

The Tunu Pratama Jaya was a roll-on/roll-off ferry commonly used for transporting vehicles and passengers across the narrow strait, part of a vital transport link between Java and the tourist hub of Bali. 

Indonesia, a nation of more than 17,000 islands, depends heavily on sea transport. But oversight remains inconsistent. 

Photo: EPA