Bali: Six people were killed and 30 others are missing following the sinking of a ferry en route to the Indonesian island of Bali. Indonesian authorities have reported the rescue of 29 people, though rescue operations have been temporarily halted due to poor visibility.
According to Qatar News Agency, the search efforts are set to resume Friday morning with the deployment of over 160 rescuers, including police and military personnel. The operation is supported by four vessels and several helicopters.
The ferry, which was transporting 53 passengers and a crew of 12, along with 22 vehicles, sank approximately 30 minutes after departing from Banyuwangi Port in East Java province. The incident occurred late Wednesday evening as the ferry was en route to Bali.
Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago with around 17,000 islands, frequently experiences ferry and passenger boat incidents. These are often attributed to adverse weather conditions and lapses in safety standards. In a notable incident in 2018, over 150 people perished when a ferry sank in one of the world's deepest lakes on the island of Sumatra.