Ferry sinks in Bali, Indonesia, with 65 on board; at least four die, reports say

At least four people died on Wednesday (2) after a ferry sank near the Indonesian tourist island of Bali with 65 people on board, local media and the country's emergency services reported. So far, 23 have been rescued, and at least 38 are missing.

Rescuers said the survivors were pulled from the water after hours of adrift, with many unconscious. Nine boats are taking part in the rescue effort in the turbulent waters of the Java Sea.

The accident happened on Wednesday night, morning in Brazil. In the early hours of Thursday, Indonesia time, rescuers found the first survivors. The ferry was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, as well as 22 vehicles. The search continues.

According to rescuers, the Tunu Pratama Jaya boat sank about half an hour after leaving Ketapang port in East Java, bound for the town of Gilimanuk in Bali — a 50-kilometer journey. The island is known for being a popular tourist destination, receiving millions of visitors from around the world each year.

Shipping is an important part of tourism and the economy of the Indonesian archipelago, which is made up of more than 17,000 islands and is home to nearly 300 million people. In March, a boat carrying tourists near Bali capsized, killing an Australian woman.