KABUL (Pajhwok): Six people have died and 107 others have been rescued after a passenger ferry capsized in Indonesia’s Java Sea, authorities said on Sunday.
The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, lost contact after encountering bad weather while travelling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, the BBC reported.
Another 130 people remain missing as about 280 personnel, ships and a helicopter take part in the search-and-rescue operation.
The ferry was last reported about 150 kilometres south of Banjarmasin at around 02:00 local time. Authorities received a distress call at 04:10.
A joint task force involving the search-and-rescue agency, navy, maritime police and other agencies has been formed to coordinate the operation.
Families have gathered at ports in Surabaya and Banjarmasin seeking information about their missing relatives.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferry transport, but maritime accidents are common. Government data show 111 ship accidents were recorded between 2020 and 2026.
In July, 58 people survived after the KM Nurul Salsa sank in South Sulawesi, while three died and 14 remained missing.
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