Indonesian search and rescue agency issued a statement on Sunday (September 13) stating that a ferry carrying 243 people from Indonesia went missing in adverse weather conditions in the Java Sea. The whereabouts of the ferry named “Virgo Transport 8” are currently unknown, and authorities have initiated search and rescue operations.
The agency said that the ferry departed from Surabaya in East Java on Saturday, heading to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, and later lost contact.
As of the statement release, the agency still could not establish contact with the ship, and it remains missing.
I Putu Sudayana, head of the rescue office, stated in a video briefing, “The ship operator reported the situation to the relevant authorities upon learning about the vessel encountering adverse weather.”
Preliminary information indicates that the last known location of the ship was in the Java Sea, approximately 148 kilometers (92 miles) from Banjarmasin pier. The ship’s passenger list shows that there were 243 passengers on board.
There are no reports of casualties at the moment.
In response, a rescue team has been dispatched to Basirih Pier in Banjarmasin for search efforts, while a rescue ship is en route to the estimated last known position of the “Virgo Transport 8.”
Sudayana, responsible for coordinating the rescue efforts, mentioned that due to the large number of passengers and crew on board, authorities are mobilizing all available personnel and resources for the search.
He stated that the agency is coordinating with the maritime department and other relevant agencies for the rescue operation, while closely monitoring the weather conditions in the area.
Indonesia, a country consisting of 17,000 islands, heavily relies on ferries as a crucial mode of transportation; compared to air travel, sea transportation is not only more affordable but also more accessible.
(This article referenced reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and the BBC)