Shocking scenes emerged from Bali’s Nusa Lembongan on Wednesday afternoon as a fast boat capsized and sank as it prepared to embark.
The ship was carrying 89 passengers, including crew, and no casualties have been reported.
The events took place at around 4.30 pm on Wednesday 4th June. The shocking turn of events was extremely distressing for tourists aboard the ship, preparing to embark on its journey to Sanur. The boat, named Tanis, was hit by a strong wave as the anchor was released from Tanjung Sanghyang Port.
Less than an hour earlier the ship had arrived from Sanur Port and safely dropped off a full contingent of passengers. Once all the passengers had disembarked, the passengers returning from Nusa Lembongan began the boarding process and everything was deemed to have been safe and normal.
It was only when the anchor was pulled that the situation became incredibly scary very quickly indeed as the boat was hit by a huge wave, causing the vessel to overturn and as tourists scrambled to jump back onto the dock, the boat started to sink.
Footage recorded by passengers aboard the ship is now widely circulating online. Passengers can be heard in distress, while others shout for those on board to calm down. Some passengers can be seen wearing life jackets, while others are scrambling to grab their bags and valuables.
As the boat became more unstable and water started entering, passengers broke the boat’s windows to secure a safe exit; some jumped into the water, while others were able to cling onto the exterior of the boat and pull themselves onto a more level surface before making a jump to safety.
Nearby boats approached the Tanis to rescue passengers, but in the hours after the incident, much of the boat’s luggage could be seen floating in the water surrounding the boat.
The Head of Public Relations of the Klungkung Police AKP Agus Widiono, told reporters on Wednesday evening to confirm that “The Tanis Boat with the destination of Lembongan-Sanur Port consists of four ABK (crew) and one captain carrying 89 passengers.”
Aboard the Tanis at the time of the incident, there were 77 international tourists and 12 Indonesian tourists. Local residents and staff from Tanjung Sanghyang Port also jumped into action to help the passengers out of the water and to jump off the sinking ship.
He continued, “The evacuation of the hull is still being carried out. The ship operator has involved divers to ensure that there are no victims trapped in the hull or at the bottom of the sea.” As confirmed by local police based on the statements made by the owner of the Tanis Boat, the loss caused by this accident is estimated to reach IDR 2.5 billion.
Bali Police have now launched an investigation and the sunken ship is now being treated as a crime scene. Police have conducted a series of witness interviews, and AKP Widiono has confirmed that officers are still doing an in-depth study of this incident.
For tourists traveling by fast boat or ferry this weekend and those taking part in any marine tourism trips such as snorkeling or diving torus, it is advisable to check in with the latest weather forecast before embarking on trips.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has an early warning of the potential for high waves that must be anticipated by marine tourism leaders and boat operators across a range of Indonesian waters between 4th – and 7th June 2025.
Speaking to reporters from Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon the Director of Maritime Meteorology BMKG Eko Prasetyo said that the atmospheric conditions and wind patterns formed in Indonesian waters triggered an increase in wave height that could endanger the safety of navigation.
He explained, “Wind patterns in the northern region of Indonesia generally move from southwest to northwest with a speed of 6–30 knots, while in the south of Indonesia it moves from northeast to southeast with a speed of 6–25 knots.”
Prasetyo added, “Fishermen and operators of sea transportation modes, such as fishing boats, barges, and ferries, are asked to be careful of wind speed and wave height.”
Wave warnings are in place for the northern Malacca Strait, the western Indian Ocean of Aceh, the Banda Sea, the Arafuru Sea, and the northern Pacific Ocean of Papua, West Papua, and Maluku. As well as across the western Indian Ocean around Bengkulu and Lampung, and the southern waters of Banten, Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara.
