Two dead after ferry carrying more than 60 people sinks off the coast of Bali

At least two people have tragically died after a ferry carrying more than 60 passengers sunk near the popular Indonesian island of Bali late on Wednesday night

The vessel, en route from Ketapang Port in East Java to Gilimanuk Port in Bali, reportedly suffered a critical leak in its engine room, leading to a complete power failure and eventual capsizing. Accordinglocal media, the ferry transmitted a distress signal at 12:16am last night and a nearby ferry tried to reach the boat to help.

Despite swift response efforts, the vessel was found overturned and drifting southward by 12:22am. The ferry was believed to be carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, at the time of the incident.

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Two bodies have been recovered and 20 were rescued, many of them unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, said Banyuwangi police chief Rama Samtama Putra.

Associated Press reported that nine boats, including two tug boats and two inflatable boats, have been searching for the missing people since Wednesday night, battling waves up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) high.

Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are often used as transport and safety regulations can lapse.

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