Six Dead, 130 Missing After Indonesian Ferry Overturns in Java Sea

 

At least six people have died and 130 remain missing after an Indonesian passenger ferry carrying 243 people overturned in the Java Sea amid bad weather, authorities said.

A total of 107 people have so far been rescued from the Virgo Transport 8, which was travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it lost contact early Sunday.

The vessel was last reported about 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Banjarmasin at around 02:00 local time. Authorities received a distress report from the ship’s operator, PT Virgo, at about 04:10.

The ferry had departed Surabaya on Saturday and was scheduled to arrive in Banjarmasin on Sunday afternoon.

A large-scale rescue operation was launched after the vessel encountered severe weather. Ships, a helicopter and hundreds of rescue personnel have been deployed to search the area and locate those still missing. Other vessels operating in the Java Sea have also been alerted to watch for survivors.

The passenger manifest listed 213 passengers and 30 crew members. Families have gathered at ports in Banjarmasin and Surabaya seeking information about their loved ones.

One woman, Rusmilawati, told BBC Indonesia that eight of her relatives were aboard the ferry. The family had last heard from one relative through a WhatsApp status message describing frightening waves before contact was lost.

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Another family received emotional news when a passenger, freight driver Ahmad Supandi, was confirmed to have survived and was rescued by another vessel.

Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the incident would be investigated by the country’s National Transportation Safety Committee. Officials are still working to establish exactly what happened to the vessel.

Indonesia is heavily dependent on ferries and other forms of maritime transport because of its more than 17,000 islands. However, serious marine accidents remain a recurring concern, particularly during difficult weather conditions.

The search for the 130 people still missing is continuing.