Rescuers extend search for dozens still missing in Java Sea ferry accident
Rescuers recovered three bodies from the submerged ship on Friday, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine, with 126 others still missing, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
Rescuers continued their search on Saturday for the missing passengers and crew of the Virgo Transport 8 ferry that capsized in the Java Sea, bringing the death toll to nine and leaving 126 people unaccounted for, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). The ferry, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, departed from Surabaya, East Java on August 13 for Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, when it lost contact with its shipping company.
Basarnas operations director Yudhi Bramantyo announced the extension of the search operation for a week, pending the outcome of discussions on how to right the submerged vessel. Some victims are believed to be trapped inside the ship. Divers are being dispatched to the wreckage site, with favorable weather conditions hoped for the following day to facilitate their efforts.
Search-and-rescue operations in Indonesia typically span seven days, with authorities empowered to prolong them if there is reason to believe that some victims might still be rescued. Maritime accidents are a frequent occurrence in Indonesia, a sprawling Southeast Asian nation of over 17,000 islands that heavily depends on maritime transport for daily commutes and tourism. The country's subpar safety standards and erratic weather patterns frequently contribute to such disasters.
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.
