Indonesia ferry sinks off Java; 130 missing, 107 rescued
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
A passenger ferry with 243 people aboard sank in the Java Sea early Sunday. Six deaths are confirmed, 107 people were rescued, and 130 remain missing. The vessel, operated by Virgo Transport 8, was en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin when it capsized in worsening weather.
Key Facts
- The ferry carried 213 passengers and 30 crew members when it sank in the Java Sea.
- Six deaths are confirmed, 107 people were rescued, and 130 remain missing.
- The vessel lost contact about two hours before capsizing, at around 2:00 a.m. local time.
- The ferry was traveling from Surabaya on Java to Banjarmasin on Borneo when it encountered bad weather.
- Search and rescue teams deployed four ships and helicopters to the area, about 148 kilometers from shore.
The Sinking
The Virgo Transport 8 ferry departed Surabaya on Saturday bound for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Weather conditions deteriorated during the crossing, and the captain reported the vessel was listing to one side. Contact with the ferry was lost around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, about two hours before it capsized and sank. The ship was approximately 148 kilometers from shore when it was last in contact. On board were 213 passengers and 30 crew members.
Rescue and Casualties
Rescuers recovered 107 survivors and six bodies from the water. Search operations continue for 130 people still missing. Four ships and helicopters were dispatched to the scene. Hundreds of relatives gathered at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin awaiting news of their loved ones. One relative said he saw his uncle's name on the passenger list and was later told by officials that he had been rescued.
Ferry Safety Record
Indonesia consists of more than 17,000 islands, making ferries a primary mode of transport. Passenger vessel accidents are frequent in the country, often attributed to lax safety measures. Last month, a ferry fire near Bali killed one person and left four missing, with 211 rescued. Two weeks earlier, the Mutira Sentos 2 burned near Java, killing five people.
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