Indonesian Rescue Teams Struggle to Reach Capsized Ship as 129 Remain Missing
Indonesian rescuers battle severe weather in the Java Sea to locate 129 missing passengers after a ferry capsized. Six confirmed dead in the disaster.
POLICY WIRE — Jakarta, Indonesia — Hundreds of Indonesian rescue personnel, including navy and coastguard units, are working under hazardous conditions to reach a passenger vessel that overturned in the Java Sea over the weekend. Authorities report that 129 individuals remain missing, while the confirmed death toll has reached six.
The vessel, identified as the Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 243 people when it encountered severe weather early Sunday. The ship was en route from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it capsized, according to the national rescue agency.
Mohammad Syafii, head of the national rescue agency, stated that the incident occurred during extremely poor weather, with waves reaching three metres in height. While 108 survivors have been pulled from the water, strong winds and choppy seas are severely hindering ongoing search efforts.
The rescue operation currently involves 622 personnel, 17 ships, and five aircraft and helicopters. Although some vessels have reached the site, Syafii noted that it remains difficult for teams to board the partially submerged ship. He added that while they intend to deploy underwater rescue specialists, current conditions make such operations impossible for now.
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Rescue agency footage shows the red-and-black ship capsized with its underside exposed above the water. The site is located approximately 80 nautical miles, or nearly 150km, from the command centre at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin. Official Arianto Ardi explained that high winds are preventing vessels from docking, noting that the journey to the site now takes up to nine hours due to the rough seas.
Agency official Edy Prakoso reported that the ship began to list heavily after being struck by powerful waves on its starboard side. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed that the vessel had a capacity for 500 passengers, indicating it was not overloaded at the time of the accident.
Indonesia frequently relies on ferry transport to navigate its 17,000 islands, though the industry has been plagued by frequent accidents. Last month, two separate ferry fires resulted in fatalities off the coasts of Madura and Bali.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
