Two dead and 43 missing after ferry sinks near Bali, rescuers still searching
Rescuers continued searching on Thursday in rough seas for the missing passengers and crew.
The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank almost half an hour after leaving East Java's Ketapang port late on Wednesday, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement.
It was bound for Bali's Gilimanuk port, a 50-kilometre trip.
The ferry carried 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, it said.
Two bodies have been recovered and 20 people were rescued, many of them unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, said Banyuwangi Police Chief Rama Samtama Putra.
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 metres high in the overnight darkness.
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.
AP
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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Bali doubles down on demolishing hotspot
As one of Bali's most iconic surf and tourist hotspots undergoes demolition, authorities have hinted at what might replace the more than 40 businesses along the famous Bingin Beach in Uluwatu. What was constructed over five decades will soon be no longer as construction begins to tear down buildings that have been deemed 'illegal'. Viral footage shows authorities destroying bars with hammers and breaking through locked doors – the home and workplace of more than 300 locals. The hotspot has also been the go-to location for Aussie surfers and backpackers aware some Aussie travellers have had their bookings voided as the demolition begins. It comes as Indonesian authorities deemed the buildings to be illegal and in violation of planning laws, environmental regulations and to be encroaching onto state-owned land. 'The buildings for tourism businesses here are illegal — that's it,' Bali's governor, I Wayan Koster told reporters last week. 'We should not let this practice continue. If we let this go on, Bali will be damaged.' He said after the demolition, they will assess 'what we can do there'. 'Bingin Beach is a prime beach. I'm sure that once it's renovated, it will become an attraction, whether it attracts surfers or something else,' Mr Koster said. 'At the very least, tourists will want to come, and it will contribute to the wellbeing of the local community.' Widespread speculation suggests the removals may be linked to plans for luxury beach club development, similar to those popping up throughout the Uluwatu area in recent years, though this is denied by authorities. @ 😢 end of an era.. goodbye Bingin Beach. Many iconic venues are now being torn down. Was this the best solution? #bingin #binginbeach #bali ♬ lucid - zensei ゼンセー Footage shows Mr Koster wielding a sledgehammer outside the luxury Morabito Art Cliff boutique hotel as he took the first ceremonial swing in the government-issued demolition. Condemned buildings include timber warungs (food sellers), bars with distinctive Javanese joglo-style roofs, and more contemporary accommodations, built into the escarpment on the Bukit Peninsula. Local workers can be seen crying as dozens of officials get to work dismantling the properties. Ombak Warung Bingin, a small, family-owned business, argued authorities 'destroyed hundreds of people' and have left them unemployed. 'Why the rush? Why couldn't you have given us more time? Intimidation, pressure while we try to pack up,' they said in an Instagram post. 'Local, Families, Generations are affected. Tourists came for the Warungs and this unique beach. Where is the JUSTICE! 'Why couldn't there have been a better solution we are all Human and who decides what is right and wrong. Where is the Concrete going to go?' @ pemerintah kabupaten Badung bersama pemprov Bali, membongkar sejumlah vila dan restoran tak berizin di pantai Bingin, desa Pecatu, kecamatan, Kuta Selatan, pada, Senin, 21/7/2025. #SaveBingin #LawEnforcement #PantaiUntukRakyat #BaliBerdaulat #TolakPerusakAlam #TertibkanBali #SaveBingin #beachbingin #bali ♬ Shadows of Us - Gustavo Iltemberg Business owners – including Australian expats – argue the structures predate planning laws, many constructed under the island's traditional adat laws, which give control to the village. One Australian owner, who was warned that foreigners could be deported or jailed for joining protests against the demolitions, admitted the legitimacy of rental agreements was always in question, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported. 'We always knew Bingin could be taken away – that's part of what kept it humble. But we didn't think it would happen so quickly,' said the owner, who asked to remain anonymous. Some of the more than 300 locals affected filed a lawsuit against the Badung Regency government. According to the AFR, those bringing the case argue that priority should be given to Balinese adat law, under which many Bingin business owners were granted informal approval or written permission to operate. After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with desperate business owners attempting to halt the demolition orders, authorities put their foot down. 'It is true that we have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' head of the Badung PP Police, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, told reporters, as per the Bali Sun. 'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21, 2025, and continue until it is completed.' Uluwatu's Bingin Beach has been a pilgrimage site for surfers since the late 1970s, with Australians making up a significant chunk of repeat visitors, and even expats. The beach's world-class barrelling lefts and laid-back atmosphere have made it a go-to within the global surf community, with the breaks Impossibles and Bingin. The demolition notices, issued via letter, posters, and WhatsApp messages, affect 45 buildings, including villas, homestays, restaurants, and other tourist facilities. 'We did this notification in various ways, in order to minimise the reason for ignorance during the execution process,' Head of Investigation Ida Bagus Ratu told local media. Regent of Badung Adi Arnawa said authorities will follow through on the mandate by the Bali Provincial Government despite widespread public outcry. 'Our community in Pecatu is very aware that they carry out activities on the land. So I hope no one comes to say this and that, pretending to be a saviour, to be a hero. People are aware when building on land that does not belong to them, so it is natural for them to leave the land,' Regent Arnawa stated, according to the Bali Sun. Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater is among those voicing concern on social media. 'Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local (eateries) and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?' he said. 'Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years. 'I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.' Bingin Beach is only reachable via steep staircases weaved through the cliffside buildings marked for demolition and the state of future beach access is unclear.

News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Jaw-dropping find behind Bali villa door
When I go on holiday, I find nothing more exciting than the moment I get to see my accommodation for the first time. I often have butterflies in my stomach as I open the door, as sad as that is to admit. In my 20-plus years of travelling, I've never had a more visceral reaction to a 'first glimpse' than when I recently checked into Villa Vienna in Seminyak, Bali. The eight-bedroom property was recently named by Stayz as the Best International Holiday Home for Aussie travellers in 2025 so I knew it was going to be good, but when I pushed open the villa's giant round wooden door for the first time, I literally gasped. I was greeted with a big blue pool featuring a large round jacuzzi, oversized day beds and a manicured lawn. I felt as if I'd just stepped foot onto the set of Love Island (before the horny contestants arrived). My jaw remained dropped as Nita, one of the villa's guest liaisons, gave me a tour of the rest of the property, including the sunken living room, indoor swim-up pool bar, cinema room and the sauna (I'm not sure why you'd want a sauna when it already feels like one outside … but maybe that's just me). You can check out the villa in the video at the top of this article (prepare to be wowed). For three glorious nights, I was lucky enough to call Villa Vienna my home, and to give you a taste of what it was like, I'm going to run you through just one of those days. 7.30am - I wake up in my airconditioned bedroom that overlooks the pool, open the curtains, and walk into my huge outdoor bathroom for a bath. 8.15am - The doorbell rings. It's the villa's personal chefs (yes, plural) who have arrived to cook me breakfast. Twenty minutes later the dining table is set, and the chefs lay down a colourful three-course meal consisting of a smoothie bowl, fruit platter and omelette with toast, hash browns and sausages. 9.30am - I leave the villa to get a takeaway coffee at Revolver, a cafe that serves one of Bali's best brews. It's conveniently located just 100 metres from the villa, where I return to slowly sip my long black while lounging on one of the day beds next to the pool. With a book in hand, I settle in for the next few hours. 11.30am - The doorbell rings again. This time it's the villa's in-house masseuse who's arrived for my prearranged massage. The masseuse sets up in my bedroom and for the next hour she gives me one of the best, most relaxing massages I've ever received. At one stage I fall asleep and I'm woken by my snoring. Terribly embarrassing, but also a ringing endorsement of the massage, right? 1pm - Still floating on cloud nine from the massage, I leave the villa and walk five minutes to Ginger Moon Canteen for lunch. It's one of the many highly rated restaurants near the villa, which is located right near Seminyak Square. 2.30pm - There's no denying that Seminyak is an assault on the senses. With scooters zipping by, people trying to sell you items on the street, and tourists galore, it's easy to get overwhelmed. But as I return to the villa for a post-lunch swim, I can't help but notice how none of that chaos is noticeable once you walk through the big wooden door. The villa is a calm, peaceful oasis, even though it's just 100 metres from the action. 5.30pm - I wake up from an unplanned nap on one of the poolside day beds. It's entirely possible that I was woken by my snoring again, but I don't know for sure, so let's just pretend it was the bang of a scooter backfiring nearby … yes, let's go with that. 6pm - After a quick shower, I catch a Grab (Indonesian version of Uber) scooter to La Plancha, a beach bar famous for its colourful bean bags and bright umbrellas. With a cocktail in hand, I watch the sunset. 7pm - I arrive at MoonLite Kitchen and Bar, a rooftop restaurant overlooking the beach, for dinner. 9pm - Back at Villa Vienna, I head upstairs to the cinema room to watch a movie. 11pm - Bedtime. My thoughts Before my recent trip, I'd never actually considered staying in a villa in Bali, mostly because there are so many amazing hotels over there. But I can assure you that will change from now on, particularly when travelling with a large posse. And it appears I'm not alone. 'With more villas being built in Bali, it's no surprise we're seeing more Aussies opt for private stays, especially when they come with such standout amenities as we see with Villa Vienna,' Stayz travel expert, Sarah King told 'We know Aussies value privacy, comfort and convenience, so we're seeing a growing demand in Aussies choosing private stays when travelling overseas – a trend that's growing faster than traditional accommodation.' Villa Vienna would be the perfect choice for a group trip to Bali given just how spacious, luxurious and private it is. Watch the video tour at the top of this page and imagine being there with 15 of your besties, a playlist called 'Baliday Inn Tunes' playing in the background, sipping on Bintangs and playing Marco Polo in the pool. If you're planning a trip to the Island of the Gods, definitely consider staying at Villa Vienna - because once you step through that giant wooden door, you'll fall in love with the place, and the staff, just like I did. And trust me, you won't want to leave. Spoiler: I did leave, but I left a piece of my heart (and my dignity — see: massage snoring) at Villa Vienna.


SBS Australia
4 days ago
- SBS Australia
Pelatih Selancar di Bali Gunakan ISL untuk Klien Berkebutuhan Khusus
Bali boasts many beaches renowned among surfers, both domestic and international. Some of the most popular beaches are Batu Bolong Beach, Bingin Beach, Padang-padang Beach, Balangan Beach, and many more. Indonesian citizen Bima Sakti is a surfer and instructor for those with hearing or speech impairments. He uses international sign language to train his clients. His career as a surf instructor using international sign language began with an incident six years ago while he was surfing in Seminyak, Bali. Bima Sakti, surfer instructor in Bali Credit: Bima Surf "I bumped into another surfer and broke my board. I was furious. It turned out he couldn't hear, so I felt bad," said the 29-year-old from West Sumatra, who has lived in Bali for almost a decade. Since then, he has been determined to learn International Sign Language, ultimately deciding to become a surfing instructor for deaf and mute clients in 2019. According to Bima, at the time, there were no surf instructors who could use International Sign Language. "At that time, I often asked deaf and mute people if they had ever tried surfing, and they said no because no one could teach them using sign language," said Bima, who is known through his Instagram account @bimasurfbali. Student caching her first wave Credit: Bima Surf "So my motivation is to give deaf and mute people the opportunity to experience surfing." Since its inception, Bima Surf School has helped more than 200 deaf and mute clients experience surfing in Bali. Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts .