The death toll from a passenger ship sinking in Indonesia's Bali Strait has risen to 15 as of Thursday, while search continued for 20 people still missing, a local official said.
Two bodies were found this morning and another on Wednesday evening, bringing the total death toll to 15, said Novita Nirmala, a senior official from the East Java Search and Rescue Office, news agency.
A wooden ship was en route from Ketapang seaport in Banyuwangi regency, East Java province, to Gilimanuk seaport in Jembrana regency, Bali Island, when it sank before midnight on July 2.
The Indonesian rescue authorities had launched a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) operation following the sinking of the KM Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry which was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles when it went down in the waters between Java and Bali islands.