INDONESIAN authorities have confirmed that one of the victims of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry sinking in the Bali Strait was a Malaysian citizen, as the official death toll rises to 15.
The Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) unit of the East Java Regional Police has successfully identified three of the four recovered bodies, including 58-year-old Malaysian national Fauzey Awang.
Head of the Medical and Health Division (Dokpol) of the East Java Police, AKBP Adam Bimantoro, was quoted by local news outlet ANTARA News as saying, “One of the victims identified was a Malaysian national confirmed as Fauzey Awang, 58.”
He added, “Identification was based on medical records and personal belongings such as a wallet and identification card.”
The other two victims identified are Noval Hardiansyah, 15, from Singojuruh, Banyuwangi, and Sofyan Wibowo, 18, from Banjarnegara, Central Java. Their identities were confirmed through dental records and personal effects.
“One remaining body has yet to be identified,” said Bimantoro. “It is that of a woman who was found wearing blue denim shorts on Plengkung Beach, within the Alas Purwo National Park area, Tegaldlimo, Banyuwangi, on Thursday (10 July).”
According to the latest update from the SAR coordination post at Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi, 15 bodies have been recovered as of Thursday night, the ninth day of search and rescue operations.
Thirty people have been rescued, while 20 remain missing.
The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, sank in the Bali Strait on Wednesday, 2 July. Search efforts are ongoing. - July 11, 2025
