Indonesia Ferry Overturns in Java Sea, Search Underway for 130 People

A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in Indonesia after the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 overturned in the Java Sea during severe weather, leaving about 130 people missing.

The vessel was carrying 243 people; 213 passengers and 30 crew members, when it ran into difficult weather conditions while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.

Indonesian authorities said 107 people had been rescued, while six people were confirmed dead in the latest update. Rescue teams are continuing to search the waters around the vessel’s last known position.

The ferry lost contact with its operator early Sunday after encountering rough seas. The ship’s captain had reportedly informed the company that the vessel was tilting before communication was lost.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi later clarified that the vessel had capsized but had not completely sunk, following aerial surveillance of the accident area.

The search has been complicated by dangerous sea conditions, with waves reaching about 2.5 metres (8.2 feet). Indonesia’s search-and-rescue agency, Basarnas, has deployed rescue vessels and a helicopter as teams work to locate those still missing.

The ferry was last located approximately 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Banjarmasin, according to officials. The incident has prompted an urgent effort to rescue survivors and establish the exact circumstances that caused the vessel to overturn.

Earlier reports gave different figures as the rescue operation developed, with the number of rescued passengers rising as additional people were brought to safety. Authorities are continuing to verify the passenger manifest and casualty figures.

Families of passengers have gathered at ports seeking information about their loved ones as the rescue operation continues.

The accident comes amid renewed concerns over maritime safety in Indonesia, an archipelago where ferries and other vessels are an important means of transportation between thousands of islands.

Authorities have yet to announce the definitive cause of the accident, with bad weather and high waves emerging as the immediate circumstances surrounding the disaster.