Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has intensified sea, air, and land searches for the 29 people still missing after the Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry capsized in Bali waters, as time runs short for rescuers.
"We are using all available resources to accelerate the search and rescue efforts," Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi told reporters in Jakarta on Saturday.
He added that since the incident, his ministry has coordinated closely with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the military, police, the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), and other relevant agencies.
On Saturday, the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command in Surabaya, East Java, joined the mission by deploying divers, elite Frogmen Command (Kopaska) personnel, and experts from its hydro-oceanographic center.
According to Basarnas, the 2nd Fleet also dispatched a helicopter and naval vessel KRI Fanildo 732, equipped with underwater detection systems.
Despite the intensified efforts, rescuers returned to base empty-handed.
Basarnas reported that six people have died, 29 remain missing, and 30 have been rescued.
Wahyu Setia Budi, a local SAR coordinator, earlier stated that the roll-on/roll-off ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles when it departed Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java, at 10:56 p.m. on Wednesday. The vessel sank en route to Gilimanuk Port in Bali at approximately 11:35 p.m.
In response to the tragedy, President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all relevant government agencies to make every possible effort to rescue the remaining passengers and crew of the ill-fated ferry.
