Indonesian authorities initiated a search and rescue operation on Sunday local time after a passenger vessel traveling from East Java to South Kalimantan lost communication while crossing the Java Sea. The ship was carrying more than 240 people.
The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, located on the island of Borneo, received a report approximately two hours after contact with the Virgo Transport 8 was severed around 2 a.m. According to I Putu Sudayana, who leads the office, the vessel’s operator notified officials that the ship had encountered severe weather conditions.
The ship departed from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, at 10:13 a.m. local time on Saturday. Initial reports place the vessel’s last known position at about 92 miles from a pier in Banjarmasin. The official manifest lists 241 passengers and crew aboard.
PT Virgo Yoel Rihi, the company operating the ferry, confirmed the loss of contact and prompted the response. A rescue team was dispatched to the Basirih Search and Rescue pier in Banjarmasin, and a rescue ship moved toward the ferry’s estimated final location.
Sudayana stated that all available personnel and assets are being mobilized given the large number of people on board. Agencies are coordinating with maritime authorities and closely monitoring weather patterns in the area. As of now, there have been no reports of casualties.
Fingers crossed for a miracle. Sending good thoughts to all the families waiting for news.
How can boats still operate in such severe weather? That seems incredibly dangerous to me.
241 people is a huge number. I hope the rescue teams reach them quickly.
This is exactly why we need better maritime infrastructure in remote areas like Java Sea.
Please let everyone on that ferry be safe. The weather sounds terrible.