One of the survivors from an ill-fated passenger ship that sank in Indonesia's Bali Strait on Wednesday night recalled the hours he spent on the sea as he was receiving medical treatment.
Dark, cold and alone -- that is how Eka describes his experience floating in the open sea before being rescued by a group of fishermen.
"I don't remember anything, only people screaming and panicking. I was trying to survive for four hours in the ocean, but my parents died instantly," said Eka.
The passenger vessel KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya was carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members, as well as 22 vehicles when the deadly accident took place.
It went down just 25 minutes after leaving the port, with six people confirmed dead so far.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but Indonesian officials say bad weather is likely to blame, with waves reaching up to 2.5 meters overnight.
President Prabowo Subianto has ordered an immediate emergency response, and search and rescue teams are continuing their operations.
As families wait for news of their loved ones, the tragedy is once again putting a spotlight on Indonesia's maritime safety standards.
Experts say there is an urgent need for stricter enforcement to prevent disasters like this from happening again.
The one-hour ferry route from Banyuwangi in East Java to Bali is often busy, and commonly used to transport both tourists and cargo vehicles. Authorities say it is not uncommon for actual passenger numbers to exceed listed limits, raising safety concerns.
Survivor recalls harrowing experience after passenger ship sinks in Bali Strait
