Indonesian rescuers reported that approximately 140 passengers and crew members are missing after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in rough weather in the Java Sea on Sunday. The ferry was carrying over 240 individuals, and as of now, 102 people have been rescued, while one body has been recovered. The vessel was en route from East Java to South Kalimantan when it encountered severe conditions, with waves reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet). The captain issued a distress signal before the ferry overturned, prompting a search operation in the vicinity of its last known location.
The ferry departed from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, and was expected to arrive in Banjarmasin on Borneo Island by Sunday afternoon. Authorities received a report about the incident approximately two hours after contact was lost around 2 a.m. on Sunday. Sudayana, head of the Search and Rescue Office, confirmed that the ship’s operator reported the situation to authorities after learning of the adverse weather conditions.
Search teams, supported by nearby vessels, are actively involved in the rescue efforts, with the agency coordinating closely with maritime authorities. The initial assessment indicated that the ferry’s last known position was about 148 kilometers (92 miles) from Banjarmasin. Indonesia, an archipelago with over 17,000 islands, frequently experiences maritime disasters, often attributed to inadequate safety regulations.
