At least six people have been confirmed dead and 129 remain missing after an Indonesian passenger ship capsized in rough weather in the Java Sea early Sunday, triggering a major search and rescue operation.
According to Indonesian authorities, the Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people when it encountered severe weather conditions and lost contact with officials. The vessel had departed from Surabaya in East Java and was bound for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when the incident occurred.
Rescue teams have so far managed to save 108 survivors, while searches continue across the surrounding waters in hopes of locating additional passengers and crew members. Emergency responders remain focused on finding survivors as conditions permit.
One survivor, Rinto Arahab, recounted the terrifying moments after the vessel overturned. He said he managed to cling to the ship’s railings before climbing to a higher section of the capsized vessel as it was tossed by waves.
Families of passengers gathered in Banjarmasin anxiously awaiting news of missing loved ones. Among them was a woman identified as Putri, who said she had been speaking with her husband by phone before communication was suddenly lost.
Indonesia’s Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said preliminary observations from a rescue helicopter indicated that the vessel had capsized but had not completely sunk. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident, with weather conditions expected to be a key focus of inquiries.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the risks associated with maritime travel in Indonesia, an archipelago nation that relies heavily on ferry transportation to connect its thousands of islands. Rescue operations are expected to continue as authorities work to account for all those who were on board.
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