Grieving families gathered at Jembrana General Hospital in Bali on Thursday to identify loved ones after a passenger vessel sank in the Bali Strait, marking Indonesia's latest maritime tragedy. At least five people have been confirmed dead, with dozens still missing, according to Tholeb Vatelehan, a senior official from East Java's Search and Rescue Office.
CGTN Stringer footage showed emotional scenes as relatives reviewed remains of four deceased victims brought to the hospital. Two survivors were also receiving treatment, though authorities have not released their conditions. Rescue teams continue combing choppy waters near Indonesia's busiest shipping lanes amid fading hopes for additional survivors.
"This disaster underscores the persistent challenges in maritime safety across Indonesia's archipelago," said Vatelehan, noting over 3,000 islands rely heavily on ferry services. The incident follows renewed government pledges to modernize aging fleets after a 2018 sinking killed 192 people.
Weather conditions and overcrowding remain key concerns in ongoing investigations. The sunken ship's manifest listed 40 passengers, but witnesses claim more boarded without documentation – a common practice in remote routes.
