Indonesia searches for 129 missing after ferry capsizes in Java Sea
At least six people were confirmed dead and 129 remain missing after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry overturned in rough seas, prompting a large-scale search operation.
Indonesian authorities intensified a search on Monday for 129 people missing after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in the Java Sea on Sunday. The vessel, traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, was carrying more than 240 passengers and crew when its captain reported a severe list in waves up to 10 feet. Contact was lost around 2 a.m., and two hours later officials confirmed the ship had overturned about 92 miles from Banjarmasin.
The National Search and Rescue Agency deployed 17 ships and aircraft, involving roughly 655 personnel from the military, police and other agencies, according to agency chief Mohammad Syafii. Specialized underwater teams and navy-operated thermal drones were also used to locate victims. "We remain hopeful of finding more survivors," Syafii said in a video briefing.
Rescue efforts on Sunday saved 108 people and recovered six bodies. The ferry’s manifest listed 243 people on board, including 213 passengers, 30 crew members and 89 vehicles, though actual passenger numbers often differ from official records. The 390-foot vessel, built in Japan in 1987, has not had its cause of the accident determined.
Survivors described the ship as overcrowded, with many passengers forced to sleep in hallways. One survivor, Ahmad Saudi, said the ferry listed suddenly without warning, causing panic and leaving little time for evacuation. Another survivor, identified only as Faisal, recounted clinging to a portion of the hull that remained above water and repeatedly reciting the Islamic call to prayer while awaiting rescue.