Indonesia says six killed, 130 missing after ferry capsizes off Java
BANJARMASIN (Indonesia): Rescuers in Indonesia said at least six people were killed and 130 others were missing on Sunday after a ferry sailing between the islands of Java and Borneo was hit by bad weather and capsized.
Rescuers in Indonesia reported at least six fatalities and 130 people missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of Java on Sunday. The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers and crew, lost contact with its shipping company early on Sunday while sailing between Java and Borneo. Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency, confirmed six deaths and 130 missing individuals, with 107 people rescued.
The ferry was carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the vessel capsized but had not sunk. Local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana revealed that the captain had reported the ship tilting before losing contact. Rescuers faced challenging conditions, battling waves up to 2.5 meters high.
The vessel's last known position was in the Java Sea, approximately 150 km from its destination. The ship, which also carried vehicles, lost contact at 2 am on Sunday. Rescue authorities set up a command center at Banjarmasin port, with paramedics and ambulances on standby. Relatives and friends of the passengers gathered at the command post for updates.
The incident highlights the high risk of marine accidents in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands heavily reliant on boat transport, often plagued by lax safety standards and unpredictable weather.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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