Contact lost with Indonesia ferry carrying 243 in bad weather, rescue agency says

An Indonesian ferry, the Virgo Transport 8, is currently missing amid bad weather conditions as it navigated from Java to Borneo. The passenger and cargo vessel, carrying 243 people and crew, departed from Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday before losing contact with its shipping company early Sunday. The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office reported the loss of communication and promptly dispatched personnel and a rescue team, KN SAR Laksmana 241, to the estimated last known location of the ship.

Given the substantial number of individuals on board, officials are prioritizing efficient coordination among all relevant authorities to expedite the search process and ensure the safety of everyone on the ferry. The ship's last recorded position was in the Java Sea, approximately 150 kilometers away from its destination, Banjarmasin pier.

Indonesia, a nation comprising over 17,000 islands, frequently faces marine accidents due to lax safety standards and unpredictable weather. Earlier this week, a speedboat with eight people, including five journalists from various news agencies, disappeared near Mount Anak Krakatau in Banten province, with a search in progress. Additionally, a ferry fire on Bali last month resulted in one fatality and the disappearance of five others, while 211 survivors were rescued.

In July, a ferry carrying more than 70 passengers sank near Selayar, a small island south of Sulawesi.