Indonesian Ferry Sinks in Java Sea, 140 People Still Missing
A ship carrying 243 people went down in a storm — dozens are still unaccounted for.
An Indonesian passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea on Sunday after losing contact with authorities during bad weather. The vessel, named Virgo Transport 8, had set sail on Saturday from Surabaya on the island of Java, heading for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Early on Sunday, it went silent.
Search and rescue teams raced to the ship's last known position, using boats and a helicopter. They battled waves reaching 2.5 metres (about 8 feet) high. So far, 103 people have been pulled from the water using various ships, according to I Putu Sudayana, who heads the rescue agency's Banjarmasin office. One of those rescued later died, meaning 102 people survived.
That leaves roughly 140 people still missing. Rescuers say some of the survivors will be taken to a port in East Java. The search is ongoing, but rough seas are making it slow and dangerous work.
Ferry travel is common across Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, but safety standards are often a concern. For families waiting on shore, this is a terrifying, uncertain time. The story is a reminder of how quickly ordinary travel across open water can turn deadly when storms hit.
- A ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea after losing contact in bad weather.
- 102 people survived; rescuers are still searching for around 140 others.
- Rough waves of up to 2.5 metres are slowing the search effort.
Why It Matters
A reminder that sea travel can turn deadly fast, and rescue in rough water is a race against time.