Fears for Australians on boat that capsized in Bali

There are fears for five Australian tourists who were reportedly on a fast boat that capsized while on a trip between islands in Bali.

The vessel, which was carrying 80 people, overturned near the resort town of Sanur on its return from the popular holiday island of Nusa Penida on Tuesday afternoon (local time).

Two Chinese nationals were reportedly killed and a 23-year-old Indonesian man was missing.

Five Australians have been reported to be among the passengers. Their conditions are not known.

Media reports say the boat flipped about 100 metres from Sunset Beach after it was hit by a big wave and ran aground.

Footage shows survivors scrambling to get out of the ocean and carrying injured passengers onto the beach.

Bali’s search and rescue chief Nyoman Sidakarya confirmed two Chinese nationals were killed, but did not reveal the cause of their deaths.

Among the 80 people on board were 73 foreign nationals, two Indonesians and five crew, the rescue agency in Denpasar said.

Boating tragedies are not uncommon in Indonesia, which is made up of numerous islands.

In March, a Melbourne woman who had just celebrated her birthday in Bali died in a horror boating accident that left another two Australians badly injured.

Anna Maree Blight was reportedly trapped for an extended period under the hull of the Sea Dragon 2 snorkelling boat that capsized on its way to Nusa Penida.

Two other Australians ended up seriously ill in hospital — Brisbane man Gabriel Hijniakoff and his partner Cintamani ‘Tam’ Warrington, who were on a “much-needed holiday”.

The Sea Dragon 2 was on its way from a port in Bali to Nusa Penida when it was overwhelmed by high waves, Bali police spokesperson Agus Widiono said.