- 80 soldiers deployed by the 1617/Jembrana Military District Command for search and rescue.
- Ferry KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank in the Bali Strait on Wednesday night amid extreme weather.
- 29 people rescued, 4 confirmed dead, and others still missing.
- Joint operation involves military, police, Basarnas, and volunteers.
- Ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew, and 22 vehicles.
Military Joins Forces with Rescue Teams
According to Indonesian news agency Antara News Agency, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) have mobilized 80 personnel from the 1617/Jembrana Military District Command to assist in the search and evacuation operation following the sinking of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry in the Bali Strait.
Lieutenant Colonel M. Adriansyah, commander of the local military unit, stated that his team is working alongside the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the Jembrana Water Police to speed up efforts to locate missing passengers.
“I have ordered them to comb the coastline, especially in spots believed to be where the current may have carried the victims,” he said.
He added that support would continue until the operation concludes: āAll stakeholders are doing their utmost, and the 1617/Jembrana Military District Command will continue to provide support until the search and rescue operation is completed.ā
Broader Coordination Underway
Colonel Candra, Head of Information for the IX/Udayana Military Command, also affirmed that inter-agency coordination began immediately after receiving news of the sinking.
“We appreciate the synergy from all parties, including the TNI, National Police, local government agencies, and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly. The operation is still underway, and we are committed to fully supporting rescue efforts until all victims are found,” he emphasized.
He further warned of the dangers of navigating waters like the Bali Strait during extreme weather events.
Incident Details and Timeline
The Tunu Pratama Jaya roll-on/roll-off vessel departed from Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi District, East Java, en route to Baliās Gilimanuk Port at 10:56 p.m. local time. It reportedly capsized in the Bali Strait and sank at 11:35 p.m. due to rough seas, according to Wahyu Setia Budi, coordinator of the Banyuwangi SAR agency.
Based on the shipās manifest, the ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles. Preliminary reports point to a leak in the engine room as a possible cause, compounded by severe weather and high waves in the strait.
Ongoing Safety Concerns
This maritime tragedy adds to a troubling series of transportation disasters in Indonesia over the past decade, raising questions about maritime safety standards.
On June 25, 2025, just one day before the ferry sinking, a long boat carrying 13 soccer players capsized near Selat Nenek Island off Batam City, Riau Islands. Ten people survived, while three remain missing.
In a widely mourned 2018 incident, the MV Sinar Bangun sank in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, with 202 passengers onboard. Only 21 survived. The rest either died or went missing, undermining the governmentās tourism campaign branding Lake Toba as a destination āBeyond Bali.ā
Search Efforts Ongoing
As of Thursday, 29 people have been rescued alive from the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, four have been confirmed dead, and the search for the remaining passengers continues under joint operations led by the TNI, Basarnas, and local law enforcement agencies.
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