Rescuers battle turbulent seas in search for 129 people after ferry sinks off Ja...
Choppy waters with high waves and strong winds were impeding the search on Monday, said Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
Rescuers faced challenging conditions as they sought to locate 129 missing individuals following the capsizing of a ferry in the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia. The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 people, went missing on Sunday due to adverse weather conditions, including choppy waters, high waves, and strong winds. Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Rescue Agency (Basarnas), reported that 108 survivors had been rescued thus far, with a death toll of six confirmed.
At least 622 personnel, including coast guard and navy members, were deployed to aid in the search, along with 17 ships and five helicopters. However, choppy seas with high waves and gusty winds were impeding efforts, making it difficult for rescuers to reach the capsized and partially submerged vessel. Authorities are reportedly identifying additional personnel with specialized underwater rescue skills to aid in the search as conditions improve.
The ship's location is approximately 80 nautical miles from the Trisakti Port command center in Banjarmasin. The rescue agency stated that none of the 129 missing individuals had been found as of Monday afternoon, and conditions remained unfavorable for conducting a thorough search. The rough seas, with wave heights reaching up to three meters, contributed to the difficulties faced by rescuers.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
