A ferry capsized due to severe weather conditions in the Java Sea, Indonesia, resulting in approximately 130 passengers and crew members being unaccounted for, according to rescue teams. The vessel, carrying over 240 individuals, was en route from Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan province, on Borneo Island.
Prior to the distress call, the ferry’s captain had reported encountering rough seas with waves reaching up to three meters, leading to the ship listing. I Putu Sudayana, the head of the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office, mentioned that the vessel eventually overturned following the distress call.
After losing contact with the Virgo Transport 8 at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, the rescue agency in Banjarmasin was notified two hours later. A search and rescue ship was dispatched to the last known location of the ferry, with authorities mobilizing teams supported by eight vessels, including four navy ships, and two helicopters.
As the search operation expanded, it was determined that the ferry’s last known position was in the Java Sea, approximately 148 kilometers from Banjarmasin. Although the ship’s manifest indicated 243 individuals on board – 213 passengers and 30 crew members – discrepancies between the manifest and actual passenger count are common in Indonesia. Additionally, the ferry was carrying 89 vehicles.
Coordinating the search efforts, Sudayana reported that by Sunday afternoon, 107 individuals had been rescued, while six bodies were recovered. The 119-meter Virgo Transport 8 ferry, constructed in Japan in 1987, was found floating upside down but had not sunk, according to Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi.
Families of the passengers gathered at a command center in Banjarmasin’s Trisakti port, anxiously awaiting updates on their loved ones. As the search continued, many checked passenger lists and rescue reports for any news. Indonesia, comprising over 17,000 islands, heavily relies on ferries for transportation, with safety issues often attributed to inadequate enforcement measures.
Recent maritime disasters in Indonesia, including a ferry fire near Bali and another ferry incident off Java, have highlighted ongoing safety concerns. The tragic event in Indonesia coincided with a ferry fire in the Philippines just days earlier, underscoring the challenges faced by maritime transport in the region.