Over 30 rescued after tour boat capsizes off Bali, Indonesia

A sightseeing vessel with 34 people on board capsized and sank after it suffered water ingress off the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Tuesday, January 3.

The sightseeing vessel Kebo Iwa Express was nearing the Port of Sanur when it encountered rough sea conditions approximately two nautical miles off the coast at around 17:30 local time on Tuesday.

The boat’s 28 passengers and six crewmembers donned lifejackets and jumped into the water shortly afterwards. Video provided by national search and rescue agency Basarnas shows all 34 passengers and crew floating in the water just before they were safely rescued by responding Good Samaritan vessels.

No serious injuries have been reported.

A representative of Kebo Iwa Express‘ operating company said the vessel suffered water ingress after it struck tree branches and other floating debris that had ended up in the area due to the inclement weather.

An Australian couple who were among the passengers told ABC News that they were advised by the crew that wearing lifejackets was not necessary even after water had already started to enter the vessel. The operating company has refuted these claims.