A passenger ferry, Virgo Transport 8, capsizes in rough seas in the Java Sea between Java and Borneo, killing at least one person and leaving more than 100 people rescued while many others remain unaccounted for. Rescue officials say the ship lost contact with its operator soon after departing Surabaya, and the captain had reported the vessel was “tilting” before communications were lost.
Accounts from different outlets cite varying casualty figures as the response evolves. Early reports from Indonesia’s search and rescue agency (Basarnas) and local rescuers say 1 death and 102 to 108 rescues, with the search continuing amid waves of about 2.5–3 metres. Other reports later say six deaths and around 129–130 missing, while additional coverage references a separate later stage of the operation with higher recovered-death totals and more missing people.
All sources describe an extensive search involving multiple helicopters and vessels, with the ferry’s last detected position about 150 kilometres from its destination near Banjarmasin. Several outlets also link the incident to recurring maritime accidents in Indonesia, where ferries are widely used and safety concerns and unpredictable weather are often cited, including a prior ferry fire near Bali.
