Ferry sinks off Bali - 38 reported missing
At least four people have died after a ferry with 65 people on board sank near the popular Indonesian holiday island of Bali, Indonesia's rescue service announced, according to the television station MetroTV, Reuters reports.
The rescue service reports 38 missing after the ferry sank late Wednesday evening at around 11:20 p.m. local time.
The ferry had set off from Ketapang on the island of Java, heading for Gilimanuk in Bali. 20 minutes later, a distress signal was sent.
- Shortly after the ship had left the port, the crew sent a distress signal, says Wahyu Setiabudi, who is coordinating the rescue work, to the dpa news agency.
It is not clear whether there were foreigners on board the sunken ferry.
Ritzau has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask if they know of any Danes who have been on board the ferry, but the ministry has not returned.
The ferry had 12 crew members and 53 passengers on board, as well as 22 vehicles.
23 people have so far been rescued. Several of them were unconscious after drifting in rough water for several hours, police chief Rama Samtama Putra told the AP.
Nine boats are involved in the rescue effort, which is being hampered by waves up to two meters high.
The cause of the sinking is still unknown.
According to the AFP news agency, the rescue service said it was investigating whether there were too many people on board compared to the permitted number.
Shipping accidents happen regularly in Indonesia due to inadequate safety measures or weather challenges, AFP writes.
In March, a boat with 16 people on board capsized around Bali. An Australian woman lost her life and at least one other person was injured.
In 2018, more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in a lake on the island of Sumatra.
/ritzau/
