A passenger ferry carrying 243 people has gone missing in the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation. The Virgo Transport 8 lost contact with its operator early Sunday morning while traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. So far, 102 people have been rescued, though one person has died, leaving approximately 140 individuals still unaccounted for.
The vessel sank in challenging maritime conditions, with waves reaching heights of 2.5 meters hampering rescue efforts in the area. According to authorities, the ship’s last known location was roughly 81 nautical miles from Banjarmasin. Search and rescue teams, including helicopter support and multiple rescue vessels, have been deployed to locate the missing passengers and crew members.
Officials reported that severe weather significantly complicated the rescue operation. A local search and rescue coordinator noted that even larger rescue vessels faced considerable danger in such conditions. The incident adds to a troubling pattern of maritime accidents in Indonesian waters, following a ferry fire last month and another vessel sinking in July.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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