Ferry with 243 people sinks in Indonesia: about 130 passengers missing
Passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 people, sank in the Java Sea in Indonesia. Six people died, 107 were rescued, and about 130 passengers are considered missing, Deutsche Welle English reports.
The ferry was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin
The vessel was traveling from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, to Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo. The ferry departed on Saturday at 10:13 local time and was expected to arrive in Banjarmasin at around 14:00 on Sunday.
According to local authorities, the vessel sank on Sunday after encountering bad weather. The operator lost contact with the ferry early Sunday morning. The vessel’s last known location was in the Java Sea, approximately 148 kilometers from the pier in Banjarmasin, the Associated Press reported.
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Search and rescue operation underway
After receiving the operator’s report, authorities launched a search and rescue operation. Ships and a helicopter were sent to the ferry’s last known location.
The head of the Banjarmasin search and rescue office, I Putu Sudayana, said rescuers were making every effort to find the victims, while some passengers had already been evacuated by units at the scene. According to him, due to the large number of people on board, the service mobilized all available personnel and equipment, coordinates actions with maritime authorities, and monitors weather conditions.
Indonesia, which has approximately 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferry connections. Sea transport in the country is often cheaper and more accessible than air travel, while safety oversight in the maritime sector is uneven.
