Indonesian divers recover 3 bodies from capsized ferry as salvage operation begins

Indonesian rescue teams recovered three bodies from a capsized ferry on Friday, as they begin a salvage operation to retrieve more victims. The confirmed death toll now stands at nine, with 126 people still missing. The Virgo Transport 8 ferry, carrying 243 people, overturned in rough seas near Banjarmasin on South Kalimantan island on Sunday.

Rescue divers entered the wreck through a window and extracted the bodies of two men and a woman. The vessel, built in Japan in 1987, was en route from Surabaya in East Java when it reported a distress call around 2 a.m. The ship drifted about 453 meters southeast from its initial position and rested at a depth of 29 meters. Authorities detected no fuel leakage or signs of oil pollution.

Despite several days of poor weather, divers and navy special forces reached the wreck on Thursday, installing guide ropes to support underwater operations.