By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News
DENPASAR, INDONESIA (Worthy News) – Scores of tourists in Indonesia’s province of Bali are happy to be alive after their boat sank in the waters of Mushroom Bay.
The popular bay on the west coast of Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the coast of Bali but part of the province, was the destination of The Tanis vessel with a capacity of 125 people.
The Tanis carried a total of 89 passengers when tragedy struck, and everyone miraculously survived, authorities of Indonesia’s only Hindu-majority province confirmed Saturday.
Among those on board were 77 foreign nationals and 12 Indonesian citizens, Worthy News learned. “At around 18.30, the evacuation process for all passengers was completed with all passengers safe and no fatalities,” said Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Senior Commissioner Ariasandy, in published remarks.
According to a reconstruction of Wednesday’s incident, the ship had departed from Tanjung Sanghyang Port in Lembongan Village, heading to the Sanur Port of Denpasar, Bali’s capital.
Footage reviewed by Worthy News showed several passengers at the back of the ship kicking the window until it broke, saving themselves through the gap. Several were seen falling into the water.
However, watching the incident, “the surrounding community immediately tried to evacuate all passengers on the ship,” witnesses said.
TWO DIVERS
The ship also involved two divers to ensure that no victims were trapped inside or on the seabed, according to sources familiar with the case.
The ship’s condition was declared very good because it had only been operating for about three months. There were no reports of previous accidents on the ship. However, shortly after sailing, a disaster occurred when the boat dropped off passengers at Mushroom Bay beach.
According to investigators, the position of the ship’s bow touched the beach, and then a large wave hit the back of the boat, causing a large amount of water to enter the vessel.
“As a result, the ship tilted to the left so that it lost its balance and finally capsized in a location not far from the shore,” witnesses said.
The ship’s captain tried to move the boat into the middle of the sea. “Unfortunately, the ship, which was already full of water, accompanied by the passengers’ panic, lost stability and finally tilted until it sank,” investigators said.
While everyone survived, questions are expected about safety measures and the seaworthiness of these and other vessels in Bali, which hosts millions of tourists.
In 2024, Bali saw 6.3 million international tourists, surpassing its pre-pandemic peak of 6.28 million in 2019, according to official data.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
A government ban on major social media platforms that enraged young Nepalis has spiraled into the country’s deadliest political violence in decades, with authorities saying Sunday that at least 72 people have been killed and hundreds more injured during protests reflecting years of frustration over corruption, inequality, and “curbs on freedoms.”
Throughout the Hill Country, crosses, words of Jesus, prayers and messages of hope are written on memorials honoring nearly 150 killed from the catastrophic July 4 flash flood.
The NATO military alliance has begun rolling out its defensive posture on its eastern flank bordering Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. NATO leaders said the new equipment is aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression after at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish territory and Romania also reported a violation of its airspace.
Israel’s surprise strike on Hamas political leaders in Qatar showcased its growing arsenal of advanced ballistic missiles and its ability to deploy them at long range with precision, according to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal.
More than 100,000 people packed into central London on Saturday for what organizers billed as the largest free speech rally in British history. The “Unite the Kingdom” march, spearheaded by activist Tommy Robinson, featured a live video appearance by billionaire Elon Musk and a tribute to slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Christians in Pakistan’s flood-hit Punjab province were among those struggling to survive Thursday, while in Indonesia, at least 19 people were confirmed dead after flash floods struck the tourist island of Bali and other regions as deadly monsoon waters swept across parts of South Asia.
Much of the world is mourning after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the born-again Christian conservative leader, who inspired his generation and whose widow praised him as a loving husband with a deep faith in Jesus Christ.