Indonesia ferry search enters second day after vessel capsizes, 129 still missing

Jakarta, September 14 — Indonesian search and rescue teams continued their efforts to locate the 129 people still missing after the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea off South Kalimantan on Monday, marking the beginning of the second day of the operation. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) chief, Mohammad Syafii, reported that 114 of the 243 people on board were accounted for, consisting of 108 survivors and six fatalities.

The focus of the search remains on finding and rescuing the remaining missing individuals while ensuring the safety of all personnel involved. Basarnas, along with the military, police, government agencies, volunteers, and other rescue units, is participating in the operation, which currently involves 655 personnel supported by vessels, helicopters, and aircraft.

The search, previously divided into eight sectors, has been restructured into six to enhance efforts to locate those still missing. The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, lost contact around 2 am on Sunday while en route from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. The ferry was later discovered capsized.

Authorities stated that the vessel suffered damage to its starboard side before listing, and an investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.