Three More Bodies Recovered in Bali Strait Ferry Tragedy

Search and rescue teams brave rough seas in the Bali Strait as hopes fade for those still missing from the capsized ferry. Source: Instagram/basarnas_special_group

BALI — Search and rescue teams have recovered three more bodies believed to be passengers of the ill-fated KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry, which sank last week in the Bali Strait. The discovery brings the confirmed death toll to 15, with 20 people still unaccounted for.

The ferry, which had been carrying 65 people, capsized on Wednesday, 2 July, during a routine crossing from Ketapang Port in East Java to Gilimanuk in Bali. 

The first of the newly recovered victims—a man dressed in a black T-shirt and blue jeans—was found on Wednesday evening, 9 July, on Perpat Sembulungan Beach in Muncar, around 26 nautical miles from the site of the sinking, according to Ribut Eko Suyatno, operations deputy of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

Two more bodies were located on Thursday morning. A woman in denim shorts was discovered at Plengkung Beach, inside the Alas Purwo National Park, roughly 34 nautical miles from the scene. Hours later, a man wearing a red-and-black checkered shirt was found on Pebuahan Beach, Jembrana, Bali—some 18 nautical miles from where the ferry went down.

All the remains were transported to Blambangan Hospital for forensic examination and identification by the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team.

As of Thursday, 10 July, officials report 15 confirmed fatalities—four of whom have been identified—30 survivors, and 20 still missing. The search has since been extended at the request of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, the Tanjung Wangi Port Authority, and Jembrana Regency officials.

“We’re prioritising underwater mapping and recovery, while making sure our teams remain safe,” said Suyatno.

Among the earlier identified victims are Muh. Aris Setiawan, 23, from Blitar, and Rido Anggoro, 29, from Banyuwangi.

Air, sea and land teams continue to comb the coastline and surrounding waters between East Java and Bali in what has become one of the largest ferry disaster responses in the region this year.