The head of state's instruction was relayed by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya in a press statement issued in the holy city of Mecca on the sidelines of President Prabowo's official visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
"Mr. President has been informed about the sea accident, which was caused by bad weather, and has instructed the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and all related government agencies to save those on board," he emphasized.
Wahyu Setia Budi, coordinator of the Banyuwangi SAR agency, previously reported that the Tunu Pratama Jaya roll-on/roll-off vessel was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 cars.
The vessel departed from Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi District, East Java, bound for Bali's Gilimanuk Port at 10:56 p.m. local time and reportedly sank at 11:35 p.m. local time, he added.
As of Thursday morning, four people had been found alive, while 61 others remained missing, according to East Java Police Spokesperson Sen. Coms. Jules Abraham Abast.
The survivors have been identified as Saroji (47), Mansur (40), Romi Alga Hidayat, and Sandi (44), all from Banyuwangi, East Java, Abast remarked.
Over the past seven years, several fatal accidents have continued to challenge Indonesia's transportation safety record, with the country witnessing a series of tragic incidents.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, a long boat carrying 13 soccer players capsized off the waters of Selat Nenek Island near Batam City, Riau Islands. Ten people survived, while three others were reported missing.
On June 18, 2018, MV Sinar Bangun, with 202 passengers on board, met its watery grave at the bottom of Lake Toba in North Sumatra Province.
Consequently, three passengers lost their lives, while 164 others went missing. Only 21 survived the tragedy that struck at a time when the Indonesian government was actively promoting Lake Toba as one of the 10 priority "Beyond Bali" Destinations.
Related news: MV Tunu Pratama Jaya with 53 passengers, 22 cars sinks off Bali island
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Translator: Fathur R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Arie Novarina
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