**Tragedy Strikes: Ferry Sinks Near Bali, Leaving Four Dead and Dozens Missing**

Emergency responders are mobilized to search for survivors after a ferry accident highlights ongoing safety concerns in Indonesia's maritime travel.

At least four people have been reported dead and numerous others are missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of Bali, Indonesia. The ferry, which had 53 passengers and 12 crew members onboard, sank at approximately 23:20 local time on Wednesday while en route from Banyuwangi on the eastern coast of Java to Bali, according to the Surabaya office of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

In the early hours of Thursday, rescuers successfully located four passengers who had taken refuge in a lifeboat; however, efforts are continuing to find more survivors. Eyewitness accounts and images from the scene show ambulances positioned nearby as anxious family members await news regarding their loved ones at the roadside.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking. The ferry operator disclosed to local news outlets that the vessel had reported experiencing engine trouble shortly before it submerged. This route is commonly used by locals traveling between Java and Bali. Notably, all four individuals rescued were identified as residents of Banyuwangi, as per the Surabaya search and rescue team's report.

Unfortunately, marine accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, an expansive archipelago made up of approximately 17,000 islands, where lax enforcement of safety regulations poses significant risks. Just earlier this year, an Australian woman lost her life when a boat capsized off Bali with 16 individuals onboard.