A search and rescue operation in the Java Sea has resulted in the recovery of 102 survivors and one fatality following the disappearance of an Indonesian passenger ferry. The incident involved the Virgo Transport 8 vessel, which was transporting 243 people when contact was lost due to severe weather conditions, according to Indonesia’s search and rescue agency.
Officials stated that the ferry was en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin in south Kalimantan when it last reported its position around 02:00 local time on Sunday, approximately 150km south of Banjarmasin. Emergency response units, including ships and a helicopter, have been deployed to the area, and all other vessels in the vicinity have been instructed to report any signs of passengers or debris.
The search for the remaining individuals is currently ongoing. This event marks the second maritime incident in Indonesia in recent weeks; last month, a separate ferry fire off Madura island claimed five lives. Ferries remain a primary mode of transport across the Indonesian archipelago, which comprises more than 17,000 islands.
How are ferry safety standards maintained across 17,000 islands? This seems to be the second major incident recently.
Glad so many were rescued, but it’s alarming that one is already lost. The weather must have been terrifying.