On Thursday, rescuers began searching for 43 individuals who went missing in turbulent seas after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the resort island of Bali in Indonesia.

Source: AP citing local rescue services and police

The ferry sank nearly half an hour after departing from Ketapang port in East Java. It was en route to Gilimanuk port on Bali, located 50 kilometers away.

There were 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles on board, including 14 trucks.

Reports indicate that two bodies have been found, and 20 individuals have been rescued, many of whom were unconscious after drifting for several hours in rough waters.

AP adds that since Wednesday evening, nine boats, including two tugboats and two inflatable crafts, have been searching for the missing, battling waves up to 2 meters high in darkness.

Moreover, the publication notes that ferry disasters are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands where ferries are frequently used as a means of transportation, and safety regulations are not always followed.